No one was at home of the fire, which apparently started after a kitchen burner was left on. It caused an estimated $225,000 in damage to the home and its contents, said Jim Flaherty, spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at 10809 N.E. 90th St. shortly before 7 p.m. to find heavy smoke pouring out of the ground floor and moderate amount of smoke coming out of the second floor, Flaherty said.

A neighbor, Donnie Vercher, noticed smoke and asked another person to call 911, Flaherty said. Vercher then ran across the street to check on the home’s sole occupant, he said.

Vercher broke out a window to call into the home and, with the assistance of another neighbor, forced open a garage door.

“Seeing the car wasn’t there, they felt comfortable he wasn’t in the home,” Flaherty said.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found heavy heat and smoke in the kitchen, Flaherty said. As they extinguished the kitchen fire, they broke windows on the second floor to allow smoke to escape, he said.

It took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control, Flaherty said.

“There is extensive fire, heat and smoke damage on the first floor, significant smoke damage on the second floor,” he said.

Flaherty said the damage would have been far worse if it hasn’t been for Vercher’s quick notification.

“Without a doubt, we would have had a fully involved first-floor and, most likely, second-floor fire if the neighbor hadn’t noticed it,” he said.

Records indicate the home is owned by William M. Corey.