On December 5th at 1100 PM Longview Fire and C2FR were dispatched to a possible house fire located at 521 23rd Ave in the City of Longview. Fire crews had just returned from a prior apartment fire (see press release titled: Apartment Fire Displaces Three Families in Longview).
When firefighters arrived the entire neighborhood was blanketed in a thick layer of smoke caused by the cold weather and air inversion. Crew quickly determined that the fire was located under the one-story single family residence, in the crawl space… an unusual and difficult to fight location for a fire.
Crews attacked the fire from the crawl space for an initial knock down, but the fire had spread into the exterior wall and threatened spreading into the attic. To gain better firefighting access firefighters cut holes into the homes floor so they could fully confine and extinguish the fire. The fire was reported under control 45 minutes after arrival, and crews worked for another hour to fully overhaul and extinguish the fire.
One occupant was home at the time of the fire and was able to exit the without incident; her husband was at work at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. The family was relocated to a neighbor’s home during and after the fire.
Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by an electrical short in the crawl space. The home suffered considerable structural damage under the home and in two of its rooms. Damage estimates are undetermined at this time; Statewide Restoration was called out to perform board up and security measures.
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On December 5th at about 5:45 PM a wall fire was reported in an apartment unit at 1915 Dorothy Ave in Longview. Just prior to this fire notification multiple fire units were already responding to a possible fire in West Longview, so fire units were spread thin and were responding from as far away as Kalama.
When fire crews arrived they were told the fire was out… caused by some “Hot Work” while plumbing. Crews entered the smoke filled first floor unit and determined they still had active fire burning in the wall. Additional crews were assigned into the unit immediately adjacent, and the units above the fire. Four apartment units were filled with smoke indicating active fire.
As crews accessed the hidden fire in the walls they were able to extinguish the fire by accessing and attacking it from both lower units. No fire spread vertically to the upstairs units, however, there was significant smoke damage as well as damage to the waste plumbing system in the unit above the fire.
Three families were displaced by the fire and Red Cross was called out to provide assistance for one of the families. No injuries were reported, however, many of the occupants were staying put in their smoke filled apartments until firefighters ordered them out, for their safety.
When fire burns it creates smoke, and the smoke is filled full of Carbon Monoxide as well as other dangerous chemical gases. Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas, and the leading cause of residential fire fatalities. This fire serves as a reminder that when fire occurs “Get Out and Stay Out” and only go back inside after it’s been declared safe to reenter.
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Longview Firefighters responded to the 2800 block of Colorado Street in Longview, WA last night for a residential structure fire. Flames were visible through a large picture window in the front of the 1-story house, and flames were seen coming from the roofline when Friefighters arrived about 7:30pm on 11/191/2018.
The father of the woman who owns the house stopped by for a visit, and noticed the unoccupied home was filling with smoke and heat when he opened the door. He immediately retreated and called 911.
He told arriving crews that the house was empty, as his daughter and her children were out of the house.
Crews quickly extended hose lines into the structure for an offensive fire attack, and knocked the fire down about 15 minutes later. Crews searched the house and found 1 dog and 1 pig--both family pets. The pig was OK; it was found in the back yard. The family dog was found inside the house, and was badly injured due to smoke inhalation. Crews carried the dog outside, and Firefighters from Engine 21 used oxygen and an improvised oxygen mask to help the dog breath.
The home owner arrived and she and her family took the dog to the emergency vet hospital in Vancouver. The status of the dog currently is unknown.
Firefighters continued with overhaul, knocking out hot spots and ensuring there was no further flame spread. Investigators arrived to help find a cause to the blaze. Their investigatin is still undergoing.
Crews finished operations about 10:30 that night. Red Cross was called to provide help to the displaced family of 2 adults and 2 children, ages 6 and 12.