An apartment fire Sunday morning in east Vancouver was likely caused by discarded smoking materials, according to a fire marshal.
The fire at Oak Creek Apartment complex, 11412 N.E. 49th St., started on the porch of a second-story apartment, Lead Deputy Fire Marshal Dean Bray said.
A discarded cigarette pack was found near the point of origin, Bray said. Witness interviews also pointed to improperly discarded smoking materials as the cause.
The fire uprooted eight families because of smoke and water damage to their apartments, according to a news release from the Vancouver Fire Department.
There were no injuries, according to a spokesman for the department.
Firefighters received a 911 call at about 3:30 a.m. for the apartment fire. They arrived at the building in four minutes and found a fire burning on the second floor.
As flames reached the attic, firefighters pulled a water hose to the back of the building and sprayed water on the main body of the fire, according to the news release. Another team of firefighters entered the building and extinguished the remaining fire while searching for possible occupants.
Firefighters had the fire controlled in about 20 minutes, and American Red Cross workers arrived to assist the families with damaged apartments.
The blaze caused about $344,000 in damage, Bray said. The building was heavily damaged, and it’s unlikely the families will return soon, he said.
The fire marshal reminded residents to have a designated smoking area and to make sure cigarette butts are properly discarded.
