Crews quell transfer station fire

Spontaneous combustion is blamed for a debris fire at the Central Transfer and Recycling Center, 11034 N.E. 117th Ave., on Sunday morning.

Vancouver firefighters quickly tamed the smoky fire that was reported by a security firm at 6:27 a.m.

Capt. Chris Moen said the debris pile was about 4 to 5 feet high and 20 feet in circumference.

“Fire crews opened up main roll-up doors on two sides and found the building charged with heavy smoke and the sprinkler system had activated and was flowing water,” Moen said in a press release.

No one was injured and damage to the warehouse building was minimal, limited to melting of some insulation in the ceiling, Moen said.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office said the blaze was caused by spontaneous heating in a debris pile containing bark dust and other waste materials.

Moen said the working sprinkler system kept the fire from causing more damage.

Crews brought four fire engines and one truck, Moen said.

The building is owned by the Columbia Resource Company, according to county property records.