Vancouver man burned in Rose Village garage fire dies from injuries

A man who was seriously burned in a garage fire June 2 in Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood died from his injuries.

The Vancouver Fire Department responded at 2:08 p.m. to reports of a fire at 3114 P St., according to a department news release.

Neighbors reported hearing numerous explosions. When crews arrived, they found a detached garage engulfed in flames and the roof collapsed, according to Vancouver Fire Capt. Raymond Egan. Firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to the nearby house, but the garage was destroyed.

While firefighters were battling the blaze, a resident arrived on scene severely burned, Egan said. He was taken by ambulance to a burn center in Portland. The man, who officials have not identified, died that evening, according to Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli.

Scarpelli said the fire was caused by the manufacturing of illegal fireworks or pyrotechnics. Investigators found unspent materials for bottle rockets, large mortars and M-1000-type fireworks. The blaze also destroyed a vehicle in the double garage, she said.

“It’s an incredibly unfortunate situation,” Scarpelli said. “With these types of actions not only are they illegal and dangerous, but they put the community at large in danger, too.”

Investigators estimate the fire caused between $80,000 and $100,000 worth of damage, Scarpelli said.

Crews extinguished the fire after about an hour, according to emergency radio traffic monitored by The Columbian.

No firefighters were reportedly injured.

The Vancouver Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also investigated.