UPDATE: Passerby alerts family to late-night fire in Fisher’s Landing

A family of four has much to thank a passerby and Vancouver firefighters for, as do the family’s four cats, dog, two lizards, frog and fish.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday, the passerby knocked on the family’s door in Fisher’s Landing and told them the outside of their rented home in the 17400 block of Northeast Third Street was in flames.

A man who lives there “had no idea,” said Capt. Dave James with the Vancouver Fire Department. “He was very surprised at the size of the fire when he went outside.”

At 10:37 p.m., a firefighter radioed, “Everybody is evacuated from the house,” according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

By 10:45 p.m., the flames were believed to have been knocked down and firefighters were checking to see how far they had spread, looking for smoldering areas.

The two adults, two children and many pets got out safely.

The blaze appeared to have started in an outbuilding; flames then spread to the exterior living-room wall of the home, then to some extent inside the home and into the attic.

Firefighters moved the family’s furniture and other belongings away from the burning living room wall, saving many of them.

In the end, the living room wall was gutted, but firefighters stopped the flames before they spread farther, saving much of the home, James said.

The passerby’s name was not available. The cause and dollar damage estimate were under investigation.