Attic fire damages mall-area home

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire -- but you might not smell it.

Until they heard noises coming from their ceiling, a man and woman who live at 8809 N.E. 57th St. had no clue that a fire was glowing and smoldering in their attic.

The Vancouver Fire Department was called to the home east of Walnut Grove at 8:03 p.m. and arrived seven minutes later to find light smoke coming from attic vents and in the garage.

However, there was no smoke inside the home’s living area, said Fire Capt. Bill Garlington.

The man and woman who lived there had heard noises above them and called 911.

Using a thermal imaging camera, firefighters could see heat in the attic above the hall bathroom.

Firefighters placed large tarps over the home’s furnishings and floor, then used special tools to pull the ceiling down. That exposed a glowing smoldering fire that had burned through a ceiling joist, Garlington said.

Firefighters doused the fire, then moved burnt material outside.

No one was reported injured. Damage was estimated at $10,000.

An electrical problem in the attic caused the fire.

Garlington said homeowners should check their attics to see if electrical wiring is attached to framing with staples, which, if too tight, might pierce the insulation.

Such fires can be difficult to detect, Garlington said. He said keeps a standard battery-operated smoke detector in his attic.

The home is owned by Rodney and Sandra Moose, according to county records.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.