Authorities have launched an arson investigation after a house and shop fire Thursday afternoon in Battle Ground.
Clark County Fire District 3 was dispatched to at 2:32 p.m. to 1108 S.E. 20th Ave. A blaze was spotted in the basement of a single-story, 1800-square-foot house, according to a Fire District 3 news release.
A 24-foot by 24-foot shop on the property was also involved, according to the release. The fire was extinguished by 3:01 p.m.
The fire is being investigated as arson by Fire District 3 and the Battle Ground Police Department, according to the release.
Calling the blaze “suspicious in nature,” a firefighter requested police and medical crews minutes after firefighters arrived, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian. One witness reported seeing someone walking away from the scene with a ladder and a bucket, according to the scanner.
“It is being investigated as an arson, but there are no suspects or arrests at this time,” Battle Ground Police Department spokeswoman Bonnie Gilberti said.
As crews were battling the fire, and in the minutes after, a Clark Public Utilities crew was called to shut off electricity, and water was stopped, according to the scanner.
