Firefighters were sent at 10:20 a.m. Friday to 9704 S.E. Fifth St. Homeowners John and Patricia McKenna had smelled smoke, said Capt. Kevin Murray with the Vancouver Fire Department.

After smelling the smoke, John McKenna spotted  the fire when he lowered some attic stairs into the garage. He and his wife left the house and called 911.

Firefighters stayed on scene several hours, removing cellulose insulation and making sure no hot spots remained, Murray said.

The cause of the blaze is undetermined, but most likely was an electrical malfunction in a ceiling light fixture, Murray said. Damage was estimated at $11,500.

Motorist runs over officer’s foot

A Battle Ground motorcycle officer went to the doctor and a driver went to jail in the aftermath of an alleged seat belt infraction Tuesday afternoon.

According to a police news release, the officer stopped Luda Tolokovaya, age and address unavailable, for the infraction. While he was writing the ticket, she allegedly grabbed it from his hand and attempted to drive away, running over his foot in the process.

The officer, Michael Molzahn, was checked by a doctor, who diagnosed only minor injuries. Tolokovaya was taken to jail on suspicion of reckless driving and obstructing an officer.

Level 3 sex offender
living in Hough

A man who’s been convicted of sex crimes is living at 1010 W. 12th St., No. 1, in Vancouver’s Hough neighborhood.

Dwight Norton Peterson, 52, is classified as a Level 3 sex offender, the group considered most likely to commit new sex crimes, based on criminal history, number of victims and other factors.

Peterson’s convictions include first-degree burglary with sexual motivation; third-degree assault with sexual motivation; second-degree burglary and indecent liberties.

Peterson is white with brown hair and blue eyes. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 216 pounds.

Though not currently being sought by police, he’s monitored by the sheriff’s registration unit and the Vancouver Police Department’s Sex Offender Tracking Unit.

For more information, visit www.clark.wa.gov/sheriff and, on the left, click on Community Information. Then click on Sex/Kidnap Offenders.

Missing homeless man
sought by police

Vancouver police are asking for help to find a missing homeless man. John Steven Sklany was last seen at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Share House shelter, 1115 W. 13th St.

Sklany, 46, is white with brown eyes and gray hair. He stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.

He was last seen wearing a brown parka, gray jeans, and tennis shoes.  He is believed to be living on the street.

Anyone with information about Sklany is asked to call 911.