Firefighters battle large blaze in Five Corners area

A fire sparked trees, a house and a shop building in east Vancouver on Thursday afternoon, displacing the residents.

The Vancouver Fire Department responded just before 3 p.m. to the 8500 block of 80th Avenue. A dark plume of smoke could be seen for miles and from the nearby highways.

The first crews to arrive found trees and a shop building on fire, and the blaze spread to the adjacent house, fire spokesman Jesse Martin said. Clutter at the house made it challenging for crews to access the fire, as did downed power lines, vehicles on the property and a lack of water.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for heat-related illness, Martin said. No occupants of the house were injured.

“Crews worked feverishly to control the spread of the fire and were able to make a stop saving a portion of the home,” a Vancouver Fire Department press release said, “however, the shop was a total loss.”

Crews were still on the scene Thursday evening. The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause.