A late-night fire at a Fruit Valley duplex displaced a family of five.
Vancouver firefighters were called to a kitchen fire at 1922 W. 31st St. minutes before midnight Thursday, Vancouver Fire Capt. Greg Weber said.
Crews quickly doused the blaze, which they contained to the kitchen of the unit in the single-story duplex.
Firefighters pulled some ceiling and found minor extension into the attic area, Weber said.
The fire was caused by unattended cooking, Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said. The blaze in the kitchen and smoke throughout the unit caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the structure and contents, Scarpelli said.
“It’s really important that people realize that most fires in the home start in the kitchen. It’s a high-danger zone for fire,” Scarpelli said. “Kitchen fires are the No. 1 fire cause in the city of Vancouver … these preventable fires can put a lot of people at risk.”
One adult and four children were displaced by the blaze. The American Red Cross provided the family with lodging, food, shoes, infant supplies, formula, stuffed animals and comfort kits. They also provided information on disaster health and disaster mental health services.
