Two apartment units were severely damaged by the fire; an additional five units were damaged by heat and smoke
Six residents were displaced by an apartment fire in Woodland Tuesday night.
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) crews were dispatched at 9:55 p.m. Tuesday (April 5) to an apartment fire at 1370 Woodside Street in Woodland. Callers indicated that one person was unaccounted for and possibly still inside the apartment.
The initial assignment included three fire engines, one ladder truck and one battalion chief. CCFR Engine 29 from the Woodland fire station arrived at 10:03 p.m. and reported a ground floor apartment fully involved in fire, with the fire extending to the second-floor apartment above.
Engine 29 immediately called for a second alarm to bring additional resources to the fire. Multiple fire units arrived and attacked the fire with hose lines. The first-floor apartment fire was brought under control in 10 minutes. Firefighters worked for another ten minutes to bring the second-floor fire under control. Firefighters quickly searched the first and second floor apartments and determined that no one was inside. This was later confirmed by residents when the unaccounted-for person arrived on scene.
Smoke alarms could be heard from the outside as firefighters were mopping up hot spots. Initial callers stated that they heard the alarms and looked out the peephole in their apartment door to see smoke and flames from the unit across the hallway.
According to CCFR Fire Chief John Nohr, “Working smoke alarms are one of best ways to be alerted to the danger of a fire. Tonight, multiple people are safe because they heard an alarm and got out of the building.”
Due to the age of the apartment building, it was not constructed with a fire sprinkler system to suppress the fire in the initial stages. Modern fire codes require this type of residential building to have a fire sprinkler system when constructed.
Two apartment units were severely damaged by the fire. An additional five units were damaged by heat and smoke. Six people, including one child and five adults were displaced by the fire. One cat is accounted for. There were no injuries at this incident.
The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office, with assistance from the Clark-Cowlitz Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause has not been determined at this time.
CCFR was assisted on this fire by responders from Clark County Fire District 6, the Vancouver Fire Department, Cowlitz County Fire District 1, and the Woodland Police Department.
Resources at the scene included nine fire engines, two ladder trucks, four chief officers, two fire investigators, a rehab unit for firefighter rest and rehabilitation during the event and 40 total personnel.
Information provided by Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue.
