Tenant rescues two from burning La Center house

A tenant was credited Saturday night with leading two other residents out of a burning house east of La Center.

The fire was reported about 7:50 p.m. at 36216 N.E. 119th Ave. Crews arriving on scene reported heavy flames coming from three sides of the building as well as the roof.

Chief Gordon Brooks of Clark County Fire District 10 said that the house was occupied by an 80-year-old woman, her son, and a tenant who lived in the daylight basement.

According to reports, the tenant “became aware of the fire, went upstairs and  she physically led them out of the fire through heavy smoke conditions,” Brooks said. “Based on the information I have, it was extremely hard to breathe in the house.”

An ambulance from North Country Emergency Medical Service responded and evaluated the residents for smoke inhalation; none of them were transported to a hospital, Brooks said. The tenant has family in the area who will help her, Brooks said, and the Red Cross is assisting the other two people who were displaced.

The house is described as 1½ stories with a daylight basement on a 13-acre lot. It was built in 1976, and the building was valued at just over $300,000, according to county property records.

Brooks estimated that 80 percent of the structure was destroyed.