Firefighters douse Hazel Dell house fire

A fast-moving blaze tore through the front room of a Hazel Dell home late Monday morning, blasting out the front window and melting parts on a car parked outside.

But members of Fire District 6 arrived quickly enough to stop the fire in about three minutes and confine it to the front room, although the rest of the home at 412 N.W. 78th St. was damaged by heavy smoke.

No one was injured, but Tricia Dezellem’s beagle, Ginger, and her gray-and-white cat, Bubba Jr., died in the 10:35 a.m. fire.

“It’s tough, losing my pets,” said Dezellem, who arrived later and was comforted by a neighbor and firefighter.

Her children, Jeff Dezellem, 18, a student at Columbia River High School, and Maggie Dezellem, 7, a student of Eisenhower Elementary School, had been in class when the fire broke out.

The mother said the children’s father, Tim Dezellem, had been out of town on business and was flying home Monday night.

A passing motorist and several others noticed the blaze on the busy street and called 911, said Dawn Johnson, spokeswoman for District 6.

Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting out the shattered front window. They streamed water inside to push the flames back and then carried their hoses inside to finish the job, Johnson said.

In the end, damage was estimated at $50,000 to the building and $50,000 to the family’s belongings, officials said.

The cause was not immediately available from the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office, but Tricia Dezellem told The Columbian that she’d been gone for about two hours and a candle and oil lamp had been burning in the living room.

Officials said they noticed an oddity when they arrived. The home’s door was unlocked.

“That’s a little odd to have with nobody being home at the time,” Johnson said.

Tricia Dezellem said she wasn’t aware the door was unlocked.

Dezellem arrived as firefighters worked their way through what was left of the charred structure. She sat and cried, her hand covering her mouth, with her neighbor Melanie Schurr’s arm on her shoulder.

An investigator with the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office was expected to inspect the house today, Johnson said. After a once-over by the fire marshal, the cause remained undetermined, Johnson said.

Volunteers with the Southwest Washington chapter of the American Red Cross came to the scene and provided vouchers to pay for temporary lodging for the family at a Hazel Dell motel.

In addition, two trained volunteers with the Trauma Intervention Program arrived to provide emotional support.

The family had renters’ insurance, which is inexpensive and covers the cost of damaged property, Johnson said.

Fire District 6 sent three engines, a ladder truck and a rehabilitation bus. The Vancouver Fire Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office also responded.

According to county records, the house is owned by Douglas and Carol Relyea.