Man reportedly throws gasoline on woman, sets house ablaze

A disturbance at a Sifton home erupted Friday night when a man reportedly threw gasoline into a woman’s eyes and then set the house on fire.

Fire and law enforcement officials responding to separate calls of a disturbance and a woman with an eye injury at about 7:46 p.m. arrived at 12315 N.E. 83rd St. to find the house on fire, according to Jim Flaherty, firefighter-spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department.

The woman, who had fled to a neighboring residence, had been doused with gasoline, according to Flaherty and emergency radio traffic. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in Vancouver. Flaherty said her injuries were not serious.

Firefighters, initially unsure if the man was still in the house, entered the burning structure to search for a possible victim.

No one was found inside, and a short time later, a call came in that a man with burns on his hands and backside had showed up at a gas station at 7701 N.E. 117th Ave., about a two-mile drive from the house.

The man was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Flaherty said. He was reported in critical but stable condition late Friday.

The fire was brought under control at about 8:12 p.m. Flaherty said it did moderate damage to the interior of the house.

Crews were waiting for a fire investigator to arrive.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating. “There are a lot of unknowns,” Flaherty said.

Mark Bowder: 360-735-4512 or mark.bowder@columbian.com.