Two injured, possibly one dead in fire near Frenchman’s Bar

Two people were taken to area hospitals after a fire destroyed a house Thursday morning north of Frenchman’s Bar, and there were unconfirmed reports a third person may have died.

The Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched at 6:38 a.m. to 16200 Lower River Road for a structure fire. The burning house actually was north of that address, beyond concrete barriers and a gate.

At about 8 a.m., Vancouver police were dispatched for a death investigation, according to emergency response logs. Responders believed someone may have died in the fire, according to emergency radio traffic monitored by The Columbian.

Clark County Fire Marshal Dan Young could not confirm late Thursday afternoon if anyone died. He said the ruins of the house were too hot for investigators to begin searching that morning. He said the cause of the fire likely wouldn’t be available for some time.

By 10:15 a.m. all that remained of the house was the smoldering foundation and chimney. Three vehicles were also burned on the property. Young said the structure was a two-story house that collapsed into the basement.