LA CENTER, Wash. — A fire that spread from a burning home in La Center, Washington on Wednesday afternoon prompted evacuations for those living nearby, the Clark County Sheriff's Office reported. Emergency officials said the fire was 90% contained at about 32 acres in size as of Thursday evening.
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue reported the house fire at around 4 p.m. Wednesday and warned people to stay away from the area near 370th and Jenny Creek Road. Fire officials said the house fire spread to nearby vegetation, prompting road closures at Northwest Bolen Street and Northwest 14th Avenue and Northwest 389th Street and Bolen Street.
Wednesday night, Battalion Chief Jason Leavitt confirmed two structures, the house where the fire began and a barn on the property, burned in the fire. There have been no reported injuries.
He explained why a house fire quickly became a larger problem.
"You’re looking at an issue with water supply, and with it being a little more rural — it took a little longer to get crews there," Leavitt said. "Immediately it became that 100-plus degree day and the winds, that typical hot August day that we see in Clark County. The fire took off and not only became a house fire, but started to spot out and take off up the hill towards multiple residences."
On Wednesday evening, residents were told to evacuate under a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice that was in place within a mile radius of 37000 Jenny Creek Road. By Thursday evening, emergency officials had lifted all Level 3 evacuations and advised residents that they could return home "but should remain ready to evacuate should the situation change." Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 1 (Be Ready) warnings remain in place for the surrounding area.
Julie Sokolowski's home was placed under an evacuation order Wednesday night, but she was able to return to her property Thursday.
“When the water came down it was like catching on fire as it hit, just like it looked like a bomb,” she said. “Everybody was out, every unit was on it — I know because the sirens didn’t stop for literal hours.”
Gwyn LaRee was under a Level 2 evacuation warning and decided to get her alpacas out.
"I found myself standing in the house going, 'What do we need? What can’t you live without?'" she recalled. “To have that wonderful young man show up at the door and say, 'Hey you’re evacuation level two,' your heart just kind of sinks. I think all of us still have go bags still packed but hopefully tonight we can unpack them and tomorrow we’ll start bringing our families back.”
John Nohr, fire chief with Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, said Wednesday night that there were signs that the fire's spread was slowing — but at first, it was a fast-evolving situation.
"The first engine came from this station. They arrived to a fully involved house, so they began fire operations," Nohr said. "The second unit got there and assisted, but it got into the trees and that’s when it took off."
Fire officials called for multiple additional units, including a strike team of brush engines from Clark County. They are designed to get in and go over areas that larger engines cannot. Units from a number of agencies were on the scene by Wednesday evening.
Washington's Department of Natural Resources brought in two helicopters and multiple wildland ground crews.
"It is a very hot day, on the heels of three very hot days … and sometimes we get a west wind that comes down the Columbia River at this time of night, and that could kick things up a little bit," Nohr said Wednesday night. "But we have a lot of resources on scene and it’s just a matter of getting ahead of it."
Fire officials told KGW that one thing that helped contain the fire was a homeowner who grabbed his tractor to help build a fire line.
Nohr said Thursday that a fixed-wing aircraft went over the fire area overnight and took photos, looking with infrared at the hot spots. They were able to inform fire command about the fire's movements overnight.
“I think the biggest issue with it, it wasn’t visible from the road," he said. "Jenny Creek is a well-traveled road but if the fire was contained within the house and it’s burning and it’s building heat, building fire, and then once the windows break that’s when somebody notices, they make the call to us — by then it’s taken off.”
Here's what evacuation levels mean
Level 1 Notice - Be Ready: Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and monitor local media outlets for information. Residents with special needs should take note and begin making arrangements to evacuate. Evacuations at this time are voluntary.
Level 2 Notice - Be Set: This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready at a moment's notice. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate.
Level 3 Notice - Go Now: Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should leave immediately. Listen to local media and watch for emergency personnel who may be coming by to give further instructions regarding the evacuation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.