Firefighters douse blaze at house near Battle Ground

Crews doused a fire that started in a residence in the Meadow Glade neighborhood Thursday.

Firefighters responded to 10704 N.E. 189th St. at about 11 a.m. and found flames visible from the back rear window, Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Dawdy said.

They had to cut a locked gate to get onto the property and then forced their way into the back door to quickly suppress the blaze, Dawdy said. The agency was assisted by Clark County Fire District 3 and the Vancouver Fire Department.

No one was home at the time of the fire, and no one was injured, Dawdy said.

Damage from the fire was contained to one room of the house, Dawdy said, but the house sustained smoke damage throughout.

Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Susan Anderson said that the fire was caused by a baseboard heater that made contact with clothing and other combustibles. She reminded the public that the safest thing to do is to store items at least three feet away from any heat sources.