Fatal fire victim identified as Vancouver man, 75

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim of an Oct. 10 fatal house fire in the Minnehaha area as John E. McCarty, 75.

The cause and manner of death are still pending for McCarty, a Vancouver resident, according to a medical examiner news release.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that Major Crimes Unit detectives are investigating McCarty’s death as suspicion. Sheriff’s Sgt. Brent Waddell said deputies are awaiting the results of tests; no additional information about the investigation has been released.

Vancouver firefighters rushed to 5108 N.E. 66th Ave. shortly after 7 p.m. to find a single-story, ranch-style house ablaze. They received a report that someone was inside and “went into rescue mode,” Vancouver Fire Capt. Raymond Egan said.

Emergency crews declared McCarty dead at the scene.

A total of 34 firefighters responded and brought the fire under control by 7:30 p.m.

One firefighter suffered a minor burn injury, the Vancouver Fire Department said in a news release.

Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Rick Serls said earlier this week that the fire resulted in about $130,000 worth of damage. He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation and directed further questions to the sheriff’s office.