Car burns in front of residence of new Yacolt mayor

A car fire totalled one vehicle and scorched parts of another car, an RV and the home of Yacolt’s new mayor early Friday, officials said.

The fire was reported as a house fire around 3:23 a.m. at 102 E. Humphrey St. in Yacolt. County property records indicate the home is owned by Catherine and Jeff Carothers. Jeff Carothers was sworn in as mayor last month.

Firefighters arrived and found a

car on fire in front the home, said Chief Ben Peeler with Clark County Fire District 13. Fire District 10 also assisted.

The car was a total loss, Peeler said. Radiant heat damaged another vehicle, an RV and the home, he said.

The destroyed car was valued at an estimated $5,000, said Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Susan Anderson. The other vehicles and the home suffered about $2,000 in damage, she said.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Anderson said.

Somebody keyed four of the Carotherses’ vehicles during the 2011 campaign. The home of Carothers’ opponent, Skip Benge, was egged. It is unclear if the events were related to the elections or to each other.

The Carotherses didn’t return phone calls on Friday.