Fire chief: Neighbor’s 911 call minimized damage to Yacolt home

A fire in a generator spread Monday afternoon, damaging a Yacolt house, porch and shop, according to Clark County Fire District 13.

The resident who lives at 205 Humphrey St. went outside at about 3 p.m. to do a monthly check on his backup power source, a wired-in generator, but the starter got stuck open and started a fire, Fire District 13 Chief Ben Peeler said.

The resident went inside to grab a fire extinguisher, but by the time he came back out, the fire had fully engulfed the generator and was climbing up the exterior wall of his house, Peeler said. The fire spread to a porch, a connecting shop and a 100-foot tall cedar tree.

A neighbor who noticed the commotion called 911, and firefighters responded and quickly extinguished the blaze, Peeler said.

“Flame never broke through the shell of the house,” he said.

Damage to the structure is an estimated $10,000, Peeler said, however that does not include damaged items such as the generator and a riding lawn mower.

The minimal damage to the structure, Peeler said, is due to the neighbor’s quick 911 call.

“By taking the time to call 911, it allowed us to get there in time,” Peeler said. “A few minutes more would have made the difference. … His neighbor calling it in saved his house.”

Clark County Fire -District 10 and North Country EMS assisted at the scene.