Fire officials say that smoking materials caused fires at two apartment complexes this weekend, one of which killed a man.
The victim in a fatal apartment fire Saturday in Hazel Dell was identified Monday as Richard A. White, 55.
Firefighters were dispatched to a two-alarm fire at the Forest Creek Condominiums, 7300 N.E. 16th Ave., at about 6:25 p.m. after neighbors noticed smoke coming from the window of a third-story condo unit and called 911, according to Clark County Fire District 6.
A neighbor told arriving firefighters that there may be someone inside the condo, so crews immediately began searching and quickly found White’s body, the fire district reported.
The Clark County Medical Examiner ruled that White died of smoke inhalation. He was the only occupant of the unit and there were no other injuries reported, the fire district said.
Forty-five firefighters quickly contained the blaze to the single condo unit, though five other units sustained smoke and water damage. The Vancouver Fire Department helped Clark County Fire District 6 extinguish the blaze.
Investigators said the fire is believed to be caused by unattended cigarettes.
A different two-alarm fire at an apartment complex Sunday night also was started by smoking materials, according to Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli.
Firefighters were called to the Van Plaza Apartments, 8011 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., at about 10:30 p.m. The fire originated on an exterior deck and ended up damaging the decks and living rooms of two units at the complex, Scarpelli said. An adult cat and a kitten died in the blaze.
The fire caused more than $500,000 in damage to the building and residents’ belongings, Scarpelli said.
An estimated four families were impacted by the fire.
Fire officials warned residents to use extreme caution when smoking, and to use a deep, sturdy ash tray or metal can to discard cigarettes.
In 2011, there were an estimated 90,000 fires in the United States caused by smoking materials. Those fires caused 40 deaths, 1,640 injuries and about $621 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m. Monday, firefighters also were sent to extinguish a garage fire near the intersection of Northwest 19th Avenue and 98th Street in the Lakeshore area. Fire District 6 quickly put the fire out, the agency said on its Facebook page. That fire’s cause was not reported Monday.
EARLIER VERSION OF THIS STORY
The victim in a fatal apartment fire Saturday in Hazel Dell was identified as a 55-year-old Vancouver man.
Firefighters dispatched to a two-alarm fire at the Forest Creek Condominiums on Saturday evening found the body of Richard A. White in a third-story condo unit, according to Clark County Fire District 6.
The Clark County Medical Examiner ruled that White died of smoke inhalation. He was the only occupant of the unit and there were no other injuries reported, the fire district said.
Neighbors noticed smoke coming from the window of the unit at Forest Creek Condominiums, 7300 N.E. 16th Ave., and called 911 at 6:25 p.m. Saturday. A neighbor told arriving firefighters that there may be someone inside the condo. Crews immediately began searching and quickly found White’s body, the fire district reported.
Forty-five firefighters arriving in 12 apparatuses quickly contained the fire to the single condo unit, though five other units were affected by smoke and water damage. Clark County Fire District 6 was assisted by the Vancouver Fire Department to extinguish the blaze.
Investigators say that the blaze is believed to have been caused by unattended cigarettes.
Fire officials warn residents to use extreme caution when smoking. In 2011, there were an estimated 90,000 fires in the United States caused by smoking materials that caused 40 deaths, 1,640 injuries and about $621 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
