Fire marshal: Torch used to burn weeds damaged homes

A fire that caused $750,000 damage to two homes in the Old Evergreen Highway neighborhood on Wednesday evening was likely caused by someone using a propane torch to burn weeds nearby.

Vancouver Lead Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Drone said the fire was accidentally set and was most likely a direct result of the weed burning, which was reported by eyewitnesses.

Burning vegetation in Vancouver is not allowed, whether there’s a burn ban or not, Drone said. He added that having an open flame goes against the burn bans currently in effect in Clark County.

A fire in arbor vitae between the houses, one at 8917 S.E. Porter Road and the other at 8912 S.E. Hillcrest Drive, was fueled by high winds and significantly damaged both homes. The fire was reported around 6:15 p.m. The wind blew embers south and ignited vegetation.

Earlier in the day, about 1.5 miles away, there was a fire on a bluff in the Evergreen Highlands neighborhood that spread uphill and damaged the outside of a home. Although the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire at 5727 Buena Vista Drive, no official cause has been determined, Drone said.

As of yet no citations have been issued. All three of the houses that burned are on a hillside overlooking the Columbia River and have a south-facing side that’s naturally going to be hotter.

Firefighting resources were tapped Wednesday, leading the Vancouver Fire Department to only respond to the most serious medical calls while American Medical Response dealt with the rest.