A curling iron caused a late Thursday morning fire in an east Vancouver duplex. The fire displaced a renter in one unit and killed her dog.
Vancouver firefighters responded to a report of a fire at the duplex, 120 S.E. 104th Ave., minutes before noon, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.
“When we showed up, there was minimal smoke showing, but the windows were black, so we knew we had a fire inside,” Capt. Scott Willis said.
No one was home at the time, and firefighters were able to get inside and extinguish the fire before it spread to the entire structure.
Willis said firefighters didn’t see any active fire, but the smoldering fire they encountered thoroughly scorched much of the home. No one was hurt, and police briefly redirected traffic nearby.
Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said investigators found that a curling iron set atop a bed had been left on, and ignited combustible material on the bed. A neighbor noticed the fire and called 911.
The fire did about $50,000 in total damage, she said.
Scarpelli described the dog as a medium-size, mixed-breed dog, and said the renter had renters insurance.
The Red Cross said it responded to assist three adults and one pet with lodging and other needs.
Willis said the unit’s sole occupant had family to stay with, and Red Cross personnel arrived to work with the residents in the neighboring unit, who were concerned the smoke and the odor might force them to leave. The other unit was undamaged, Scarpelli said.
County Assessor’s Office records listed Wang Bin and Guan Chun Yan, who are listed under a different address, as the owners of the duplex.
