Firefighters from Clark County Fire District 6 battled a three-alarm fire that destroyed several businesses in a Hazel Dell strip mall this afternoon.
The blaze started shortly after 2 p.m., after an employee working in the Chic Boutique reported sparks and then flames coming from a ceiling light fixture. She got out quickly and called us.
Assisted by Vancouver Fire and Clark County Fire and Rescue, crews fought the intensely hot fire for 40 minutes. While we first took at offensive posture fighting the blaze, crews discovered it had breached the common attic and was spreading at a furious pace. Within 20 minutes the third alarm was sent out, and we had a total of 12 engines, two trucks, one squad, and three Battalion Chiefs involved in the effort.
Fortunately no one was injured or killed.
Power has been cut off to the entire strip mall, located at 10501 NE Highway 99. Three businesses are extensively damaged, and at least nine suffered some level of smoke and/or water damage. One of our engines will remain on scene through the evening, and the Clark County Fire Marshall’s office will continue to investigate through the night and likely into tomorrow.