Hazel Dell house fire sparked by tipped heat lamp; injured man remains in burn center

A Sunday house fire in Hazel Dell that sent a man to the hospital was sparked when a heat lamp on the patio for the family’s dog fell over.

The man remained in a medically induced coma as of Tuesday morning at Legacy Emanuel Burn Center, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Rick Searls. A woman was treated for smoke inhalation after a neighbor brought over a ladder to help her down from a second-story window. The dog was also injured and taken to a vet to be treated.

Searls said the house was a total loss, which the county’s property records value at $328,000.

Clark County Fire District 6 responded at 5:13 a.m. for a fire at 2504 N.E. 80th St. The first crew to arrive found heavy fire on the back side of the house, along with smoke coming out of the front door and windows, according to agency spokesman David Schmitke.

Fire District 6 was on scene for 4½ hours, and firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to nearby houses.

The smoke alarms in the house were sounding when firefighters arrived; Searls also emphasized the importance of working smoke detectors.

The Red Cross responded to help the man and woman who were displaced. Fire District 6 was assisted by the Vancouver Fire Department.