What started as a smoke-in-the-area report turned into a spectacular house fire in the Proebstel area, west of Camp Bonneville, on Sunday.
The blaze at about 7:30 p.m. destroyed the house at 19207 N.E. 73rd St. before 20 firefighters could get water on it. Firefighters instead worked to keep timber and an outbuilding from catching fire.
Two vehicles also went up in flames, said Capt. Chris Moen of the Vancouver fire Department.
No one was home. No injuries were reported.
Moen said a family of six rents the house and their dog was missing.
Firefighters had severe access problems as only one fire engine could make it down a long driveway, Moen said. Two water tenders arrived to help keep the woods wet.
