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Fire engulfs home along Lewis River

By John Branton
Published: December 9, 2009, 12:00am

Homeowner suffers minor burn to leg

A Clark County man suffered a burned leg Tuesday after he tried to light a wood stove and flames spread to nearby flammable materials and engulfed his home.

The blaze destroyed Tom Stephens’ home at 17914 N.E. Cole-Witter Road, along the East Fork of the Lewis River, north of Battle Ground. He was treated for a minor burn from the fire, which was reported at 11:53 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters arrived in eight minutes and found the large, older home in flames, said Chief Steve Wrightson of Fire District 3.

“It was really going,” Wrightson said. “There was a lot of fire, flames through the windows. It didn’t take long for it to burn through the windows and roof.”

Damage was estimated at $350,000, said Deputy Fire Marshal Ken Hill.

Hill said the homeowner had been trying to light the wood stove when flames spread to nearby flammable materials. He tried to stomp the flames out, his pants caught fire and he escaped.

About 17 firefighters, with help from Clark County Fire & Rescue, doused the fire and stayed for hours, making sure all hot spots were extinguished. Paramedics with North Country Emergency Medical Services also worked at the scene.

The family dog was missing, according to a bulletin from Fire District 3.

Stephens has homeowner’s insurance, an official said.

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