Battle Ground family escapes house fire unharmed

Fire damaged the garage of a house in Battle Ground early Saturday morning. The four occupants, two adults and two small children, escaped unharmed.

The fire was reported at 1:10 a.m. at 315 N.W. Ninth St. in Battle Ground, according to Tim Dawdy, Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman.

Crews from Clark County Fire & Rescue responded, found fire in an attached garage and were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the house. They were assisted by Clark County Fire District 3 and Vancouver Fire Department. Approximately 18 firefighters were on the scene.

The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s office.

Disaster action team volunteers from the American Red Cross brought clothing, shoes, food and comfort kits for the family.

“As we approach the holiday season, we want everyone to check their smoke alarms,” Dawdy said. “If you have a working smoke alarm in every sleeping area and even in the garage, it’s hard to die in a fire.”

Dawdy said low-income people who cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms should contact their local fire department or Clark County Fire & Rescue, which received a federal smoke-alarm grant to help residents in its jurisdiction.

“It will be our holiday gift to you,” Dawdy said. “We are able to come to your house and install new smoke alarms in your house if you qualify.”