Vancouver Fire Crews Quickly Extinguish Early-Morning House Fire (Photo) - 08/26/26

Vancouver, Wash. — Shortly before 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, Vancouver Fire Department crews responded to a reported house fire in the 2200 block of NE 102nd Avenue.

A total of eight Vancouver Fire Department units responded to the scene.

First-arriving crews reported that an attached garage was on fire, with heavy smoke coming from around doors and open windows throughout the home. Firefighters entered the heavily smoke-filled residence and discovered that the fire had extended from the garage into the home through the man door between the residence and the garage. 

Crews quickly contained the fire and extinguished it before it could spread further into the structure.

One resident was home at the time of the fire and reported being awakened by his dog. The resident was able to escape the home without injury. Two people and one dog have been displaced as a result of the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Vancouver Fire Department cannot stress enough the importance of having working smoke alarms in every home. In this incident, the resident was fortunate to be alerted by a dog, but residents should never rely on a pet, their sense of smell, or the sound of a fire to wake them.

A fire can produce dangerous smoke and toxic gases very quickly, particularly while people are sleeping. A working smoke alarm provides an early warning that can give occupants the precious time they need to escape.

Vancouver Fire recommends that residents:

• Install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Test smoke alarms regularly by using the test button to make sure they are functioning properly.
• Replace smoke alarms according to the manufacturer's recommendations and immediately replace any alarm that does not function properly.
• Never disable or remove a smoke alarm because of nuisance alarms. If alarms are sounding unnecessarily, relocate them or use a model designed to reduce nuisance alarms.
• Keep smoke alarms accessible and make sure they are not covered, painted, or otherwise obstructed.
• Make sure everyone in the home can hear the alarms, including children, older adults, and anyone who may have difficulty hearing.
• Develop and practice a home escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every bedroom and establish a meeting place a safe distance from the home.
• Get outside and stay outside if a smoke alarm sounds or a fire is discovered. Never re-enter a burning or smoke-filled home.

Vancouver Fire Department also encourages residents to make sure their homes have properly functioning carbon monoxide alarms, which provide an important additional layer of protection.

For Vancouver residents who need assistance obtaining smoke alarms, Vancouver Fire Department has a limited supply of battery-powered smoke alarms available for qualifying residents and may be able to provide installation assistance at no charge. Residents can contact the Vancouver Fire Marshal's Office at 360-487-7260 for more information.

Remember: When a smoke alarm sounds, get out, stay out, and call 911.