Firefighters stop blaze from damaging Hazel Dell house

A fire damaged a Hazel Dell commercial property Sunday morning as firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading to a nearby house.

Fire crews responded just after 7 a.m. to a garage owned by Olsen Environmental at 8415 N.E. Eighth Ave. They found a fire on the exterior of the building.

Crews from Clark County Fire District 6 and the Vancouver Fire Department worked the fire for more than an hour. The fire was extinguished after crews cut through a cyclone fence to get a water line near the blaze.

Dave Shmitke, spokesman for Fire District 6, said crews stopped the fire from spreading to an adjacent house. The fire did an estimated $5,000 of damage to the garage, which is valued at $200,000.

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, Shmitke warned that vegetation around Clark County remains dangerously dry despite heavy rain last week.

“It’s deceiving,” Shmitke said. “People see the rain we’ve had and they let their guard down.”

The fire was initially reported by residents of Sam’s Good RV Park, which is a block away on Northeast Highway 99.

Fire District 6 sent two engines, one squadron and a battalion chief. The Vancouver Fire Department sent one truck and one engine.