Five people, dog displaced by house fire in Vancouver

A family of five and their dog were displaced by an attic fire Friday morning at a house in Vancouver’s Marrion neighborhood.

Vancouver firefighters were dispatched about 10:35 a.m. to 1209 N.E. 98th Ave., west of Interstate 205. Four fire apparatus and two battalion chiefs responded to the scene within 10 minutes, Vancouver Fire Department Capt. David James said.

Passers-by spotted black smoke billowing from the home’s roof vents, knocked on the front door and warned the occupants, James said.

Black smoke was still present when responders arrived, but there were no visible flames. Firefighters entered the attic and found an active fire.

“It had been burning for a while,” James said.

The fire was contained in the attic space, but the home is still considered to be uninhabitable, at least for some time. Holes will need to be cut in the ceiling to remove burnt insulation, according to the fire captain.

“It brings that insulation into the living area. It’s a messy process,” he said.

The American Red Cross is responding to help two adults and three children who were displaced.

A Vancouver fire marshal is investigating the fire’s cause.