Electrical failure sparked Hazel Dell house fire

An electrical failure in a floor lamp sparked a fire that heavily damaged a West Hazel Dell home Wednesday afternoon, displacing eight people.

The wiring in the floor lamp overheated, apparently catching the curtains in the living room on fire, the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office said. Residents said the lamp had a faulty switch.

Kendra Reagan, who rents the house, said she was watching a movie with her three children when her son said the curtains were on fire. While calling 911, she got her children out of the house and alerted other adults living in the home.

Fire District 6 and Vancouver firefighters were called to 801 N.W. 75th St. at 4:11 p.m. and arrived to find fire coming from the roof of a house with a daylight basement. The fire was concentrated on the back side of the 2,800-square-foot house.

The closest fire hydrant was across Northwest Anderson Avenue, so firefighters had to lay 1,100 feet of hose around the street, said Battalion Chief Larry Reese.

The living room was destroyed by fire, the roof partially collapsed, and the rest of the house has significant smoke and water damage, the fire marshal’s office said. The estimated cost of damage to the house and its contents is more than $390,000.

The Red Cross went to the house to provide the five adults and three children with food, clothing, supplies and lodging.