Garden hose helps check fire

Neighbors armed with a garden hose helped check the spread of a house fire in Vancouver’s Edgewood Park neighborhood today.

No one was at home at 3704 E. Eighth St. when the fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. The fire started after smoldering ashes were placed in a plastic garbage can next to the home, according to Jim Flaherty, firefighter-spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department.

When the ashes melted the can and ignited the siding, five neighbors saw the heavy smoke and swung into action. Some called the fire department while others grabbed a garden hose from next door and began spraying it on the fire.

“Their efforts helped keep the fast-moving fire from spreading,” Flaherty said in a news release.

Firefighters from Station 3 responded at 10:36 a.m. and took about 15 minutes to knock down the fire. Damage was estimated at $25,000, mostly to the exterior.

The interior of the home suffered minor smoke damage, and break-in damage from firefighters who made a forceable entry to check for victims and fire extension. Two dogs were rescued from a laundry room and reunited with their owners, who returned while the firefighters were still on the scene.

County records show the home is owned by Cassandra Forbis.