Fire destroys house in rural east Clark County

Fire destroyed a home in rural east Clark County on Wednesday morning.

Around 7:50 a.m., residents in the Fern Prairie area, northeast of Lacamas Lake, called 911 to report explosions, and said they saw fire and a column of smoke.

A Clark County Sheriff’s deputy was the first to get to the home on Northeast 304th Avenue, a two-story house with a finished basement. He warned firefighters that the house was already fully engulfed in flames.

Upon arrival, crews from East County Fire & Rescue worked to keep the fire away from a large barn, a detached garage and a shop, said Chief Dean Thornberry. Firefighters with the Camas-Washougal and Vancouver fire departments also helped fight the blaze.

“The whole house collapsed into the basement,” he said. “There (was) no safe way to put it out except to fill the basement with water.”

Without nearby hydrants, however, firefighters instead opted to let the fire burn out. Crews were at the property for several hours monitoring the smoldering remnants.

All three of the residents were not home at the time of the fire. However, two dogs and two cats perished in the fire, Thornberry said. The home was destroyed by the fire, but the garage, shop and barn were all preserved, he said.

Firefighters didn’t find indications of a large explosion like neighbors reported. What neighbors likely heard was the windows breaking as the fire pressure built, Thornberry said.

The home, which is on about five acres, is in a neighborhood with other houses on large lots. It’s owned by John and Diana Dumas.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating what caused the fire.