Fire destroys Camas business

A hot Sunday morning fire destroyed a shop building that was home to a Camas boiler repair business.

Firefighters were called to Lanz Boiler Repair, 3405 N.W. 38th Ave., in the Grass Valley area.

The alarm was sounded at 10:14 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find a hot fire in a large pole barn behind a home owned by Jerry and Virginia Lanz. As they arrived, some acetylene and oxygen tanks in the barn began to explode, which kept firefighters back and forced a defensive fire attack.

The pole barn is home to the boiler repair business. It also contained about 20 tires and numerous vehicles.

The 4,800-square-foot pole barn and its contents were destroyed, but firefighters were able to save the Lanzes’ home and a horse barn.

A truck and a tractor parked next to the barn were able to be moved and saved.

One upstairs window of the home was broken by the concussion from the explosions, said Capt. Kevin West.

The fire was big enough to trigger a second alarm. In all, 14 firefighters from Camas, East County Fire & Rescue and the Vancouver Fire Department responded.

The fire was contained about 11 a.m. without any injuries being reported.

The cause is under investigation.