Early Morning House Fire Displaces Eleven People (Photo) - 05/19/23

Kelso, WA – Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and the City of Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire before 4:30 am in the 200 block of NW 7^th Ave.  Fire crews arrived and reported the home heavily involved in fire with nearby buildings and a trailer at risk of igniting and power lines down on the street.  Firefighters attacked the fire and evacuated a total of 11 people, including 6 small children and a wheelchair-bound citizen from the home(s).   Family pets were also all accounted for.  Firefighters had the fire under control at 4:53 am.  Cowlitz County Public Utility District also responded to the incident and secured power to the area.  Kelso Police, an AMR medic unit, and a Cowlitz County Chaplin also responded.  Cowlitz County Fire District 5 (Kalama) were contacted and covered other calls in Cowlitz 2 response area.  Five engines, a ladder truck, and three Chief Officers were dispatched to the fire.   

American Red Cross is aiding the families with shelter and other resources.  The cause of the fire is under investigation, no injuries were reported.  Fire officials consider the home a total loss.   

Battalion Chief Kurt Stich on the fire, “Kelso officers were very heroic on this one.  They were pivotable in evacuating people through a very narrow alley with heat all around them when we arrived.”  Stich continues, “Cowlitz County dispatchers had the chaplains pick up diapers and distribute several packs of diapers to the families in need…Our county responders certainly come together to help.”