Two-alarm fire Thursday incinerated the contents of two apartments
A $250,000 fire at the Atherton Woods apartment complex Thursday afternoon was caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette that ignited combustible materials on a second-floor balcony, officials said Friday evening.
To make matters worse, the building in the Van Mall neighborhood has no overhead sprinkler system, because it was built before such systems were required by law, Vancouver Fire Marshal Jim Crawford said Friday.
Today, apartment buildings are required to have overhead sprinklers, including sprinkler heads outside on balconies, which would have been especially helpful in Thursday’s fire, Crawford said.
Even more unfortunate, the tenants of the two gutted apartments had no renters insurance, which would have helped, because their belongings were incinerated.
The fire, reported at 3:47 p.m. Thursday at 4719 N.E. 72nd Ave., sent up a tall column of black smoke. Large orange flames were blazing in a second-floor apartment — and one above it on the third floor — as the first crews approached, and a captain called for a second alarm.
Crews arrived quickly from a nearby station, streamed water on the flames and evacuated the residents.
A massive mobilization of more than 30 firefighters, and 10 engines and ladder trucks from around the city and Hazel Dell, was credited with saving most of the building.
Only one person was reported injured: a woman who suffered minor burns and declined offers of medical treatment.
‘A broken record’
Flaherty, a veteran of 28 years, said so many serious fires are caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials that “It’s started to sound like a broken record.”
Tenants and smokers should take responsibility for making sure cigarettes are doused and placed in an inexpensive, safe container, he said.
“There has to be a metal container for those cigarette butts, preferably with water or sand in it,” he added. “Next time you go down to get a pack of smokes, buy one and start using it.”
Had the fire started at night when residents of the building were asleep, more people could have been injured or even killed, he said.
Firefighters are frustrated by such tragedies because they can be easily prevented by smokers who use common sense. Besides apartment dwellers, firefighters themselves can be hurt or killed by such blazes.
After finding that physical evidence had been destroyed in the blaze, investigators interviewed witnesses Friday to determine the cause, Flaherty said.
Flaherty said deputy fire marshals routinely work with property management companies and on-site apartment managers, and said many are diligent in making their complexes safer. Especially important is maintaining open lanes for fire engines when trouble strikes.
Renters can speak with an insurance agent to obtain coverage for their belongings in case of a fire.
Atherton Woods employees have found new homes in the complex for folks who lived in the gutted units. The apartment complex is home for many families with children.
Volunteers with the Red Cross, which depends on donations from the public, have helped the families with temporary lodging, food and clothing, Flaherty said.
To learn more about preventing fires, call 360-487-7260.
John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.
