Garage fire caused by accident with heater

An accident with a kerosene heater started a fire that heavily damaged a detached garage in Washougal on Sunday night, and left an occupant who tried to drag it outside with minor burns, said Randy Miller, deputy fire marshal at the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.

The fire was reported around 9 p.m. at 1950 N. Washougal River Road, and flames were visible outside when firefighters arrived.

Miller said two people were living in the garage, and one of them tried flipping on a kerosene heater.

The heater had worked fine before, Miller said, but it appeared that the cap wasn’t completely on Sunday night, leading to the fire.

The American Red Cross provided three people and a pet with temporary housing. Miller said someone staying in the house likely had to leave when utility workers switched off power to the house for firefighting efforts.

Miller didn’t yet have an estimate for the cost of the damages, but said a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was inside, and the garage’s structure probably can’t be salvaged.