Shop catches fire in Ridgefield

Clark County firefighters battled a shop fire Wednesday morning in Ridgefield that produced a copious amount of smoke.

Responders with Clark County Fire & Rescue and Clark County Fire District 6 were dispatched at 8:06 a.m. to 18218 N.W. 28th Ave., Ridgefield, about a mile northwest of the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, for a report of a residential fire.

A black plume of smoke was visible a mile away from the blaze, which appeared to start in a shop housing lawn mowers, propane tanks and other items, according to a news release from Fire District 6.

A caller told dispatchers that two RVs were parked next to the burning building, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian. She also reported hearing explosions before fire crews arrived, according to scanner traffic. All the people inside exited the home, which is about 25 feet from the shop, and got away from the fire.

The initial crew found a shop engulfed in flames. The fire had not extended to the home. After walking around the shop and evaluating the situation, crews began dousing the structure, built of metal paneling, according to the scanner.

The property’s buildings are located down a long gravel driveway, so firefighters had to use water tenders to extinguish the flames, according to the fire district.

A total of 15 firefighters extinguished the blaze within 20 minutes, according to the fire district. The two RVs near the shop suffered heavy damage, but the home was untouched.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause.