Two apartment fires kept the Vancouver Fire Department busy Easter morning. While there was $650,000 damage, no one was hurt, said Capt. Chris Moen, the department’s assistant public information officer.
The more damaging fire broke out about 7:11 a.m. at the Autumn Chase Apartments, 11301 N.E. Seventh St. Firefighters arrived nine minutes later and encountered heavy fire and smoke from Building J.
A second alarm was called at 7:23 a.m. Thirty-four firefighters fought the blaze.
There was worry about a person trapped on a back deck but that person escaped, apparently with help from a neighbor, Moen said.
All occupants evacuated safely, Moen added.
Three apartments were heavily damaged, Moen said, and three others had some damage from smoke and water.
The fire was under control at approximately 7:45 a.m. and firefighters stayed on the scene for about two hours.
The cause is undetermined, a fire marshal said Sunday afternoon.
Damage is estimated at $500,000, $440,000 to the building and $60,000 to property.
Residents in the six apartments were displaced and the Red Cross helped by providing housing, Moen said.
Moen lauded the staff at Autumn Chase for requiring occupants to have renters insurance.
“All occupants who suffered loss at this fire were covered by fire insurance. The J building had 12 apartments and all 12 were insured, I have never in my 23 years seen this, and having first-hand experience with how that policy affects people, I’m impressed. A model for all apartment dwellers,” Moen said in a press release.
Firefighters just hours before had been at another apartment blaze at the Prairie View Apartments, 12611 N.E. 99th St.
That alarm came in at 3:29 a.m. and Vancouver’s Engine 4 arrived in nine minutes, Moen said. Firefighters saw fire showing from the first and second floors of Building M. A second alarm was requested at 3:41 a.m.
There were worries again that someone might be trapped, but those reports were unfounded, Moen said.
“A rapid search revealed all had evacuated from the building and the ensuing interior fire attack brought the fire under control in 21 minutes at 3:50 a.m.” Moen said. Two apartments were heavily damaged by fire, two others had light smoke damage and a five people — 2 adults, 3 children — were displaced by the blaze. The Red Cross provided aid to those fire victims, Moen said.
Moen lauded a resident, Josh Baker, and two of his friends, saying, “With Josh’s help, all residents had evacuated on our arrival.”
Preliminary damage estimate was put at $150,000.
The cause is under investigation by Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.
As if the morning wasn’t busy enough, Moen said another alarm came in 9:28 a.m. with a report of smoke coming from the Rose Ranch Retirement Inn, 8613 N.E. St. Johns Road. It turned out to be a heat pump malfunction.
The Portland Fire Department staffed several Vancouver fire stations for several hours during the long morning, Moen said.
