A woman learned the couch inside her Vancouver condominium was burning when the smell of smoke roused her from her sleep, according to fire officials.
She ran across the hallway to alert the residents in a neighboring unit, and they all evacuated into the parking lot.
The fire at the Three Peaks Condominiums neighborhood was reported at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The blaze was under control at about 7:55 a.m.
A Vancouver Fire Department engine arrived to find heavy black smoke billowing out of a second-story unit.
Eyewitnesses said they saw smoke swirling above the complex. Firefighters pulled out windows and used large fans to air out the buildings.
The fire originated in unit 34, according to Jim Flaherty, a fire department spokesman. The woman inside smelled smoke in the living area of her unit and ran outside in a purple bathrobe to tell her neighbors.
She was examined for smoke inhalation and didn’t require additional treatment, Flaherty said.
The woman’s home and and its adjoining condo, unit 33, were both evacuated. There were two adult females and two juveniles inside unit 33, Flaherty said. A male occupant returned home as firefighters worked on the smoke-filled building.
There were no other injuries reported.
Smoke spread to two additional units, causing them to be temporarily evacuated. Residents in units 32 and 35 have since been allowed to return to inside.
The Three Peaks Condominium complex features three-story units, featuring two floors and a basement.
The Red Cross has been called on to assist six residents in two units who were displaced by the smoke.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. The extent of the damage remains unclear.
The Three Peaks Condominium neighborhood is located at 1414 Brandt Road.
