Fire damaged a Ridgefield house and detached garage late Monday night, according to Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue.
The fire was reported at 11:15 p.m. at 2834 N. Smythe Road, according to a fire agency statement. It was originally called in as a garage fire by a resident who had to run to a neighbor’s house to call 911 because he didn’t have a telephone.
Crews arrived in seven minutes to find a detached garage fully involved with fire spreading to the house.
The effort to fight the fire was complicated by a downed power line that had fallen across a long, narrow driveway and thick brush and blackberry vines surrounding the house.
“This caused the first crews to pass through the house to get to the detached garage,” the statement said. “Normally, crews would attack the fire of this size in an unoccupied garage from the outside and protect the house until the fire was knocked down.”
Fire spread to the house’s attic, but crews were able to bring it under control and turn their focus to the garage fire, which was brought under control in about 20 minutes.
No one was injured, according to the statement.
Red Cross will be called in to assist the residents at the house, the statement said. The fire is being investigated by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue was assisted by Clark County Fire District 6. In all, 20 personnel responded to the fire: five engines, one ladder truck, four chief officers and one fire investigator, the fire agency said.
