Estimated damage from Grove Field fire just under $1 million

Initial estimates for the damage caused by a fire at Grove Field Airport Monday night is just under $1 million, according to the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The building sustained about $40,000 damage, but the loss from the hangars’ contents of 10 planes and four cars were an estimated loss of about $922,000, said Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Susan Anderson. The average cost per aircraft lost is $56,000.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

About 10,000 square feet of the building, which includes ten hangar units, was damaged in the flames.

“A fire wall in the middle helped prevent further damage,” Anderson said.

Power was restored to the beacon, all runway lighting and the D-row hangar, which is adjacent to the hangar row that burned, according to the Port of Camas-Washougal. The C-Row hangar is still fenced off.

Also, the Notice to Airmen that restricted runway use to daylight hours has been lifted.

David Ripp, executive director of the Port of Camas-Washougal Executive which owns the airport, said earlier this week that the plan is to rebuild the structure.

“We want to have a new home for these guys to come back to,” Ripp said.

A new hangar that size, Anderson said, will include a fire alarm system and possibly fire suppression of some kind.