Fire damages unoccupied house in Battle Ground

A fire damaged an unoccupied house in Battle Ground Sunday morning, after a passing driver noticed smoke around the building.

Clark County Fire District 3 Battalion Chief Dave O’Brien said someone on state Highway 503 passed the house, 1806 S.W. 10th Ave., and called 911.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from the eaves.

“So we made entry to the house and had the fire under control in about 15 minutes,” O’Brien said.

The fire did significant damage to about half of the house, a smaller, single-story home.

The house has been empty for several years, he said, and the power was cut off. The owners live a few blocks away, and told firefighters they’ve had occasional problems with vandalism and break-ins, but nothing beyond that.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating.