Firefighters had a tough time with a house fire Sunday afternoon in St. Helens thanks to hot and dry conditions that made it “very, very difficult” to put out.
The blaze started in the back of a home on Firlok Park Street. Everyone inside made it out safely, including two cats. The homeowner is working with the Red Cross on a place to stay moving forward. ... Firefighters say the cause is still under investigation, but Pyl suspects a cigarette butt is what started the fire.
“This was a very, very difficult fire, probably one of the greatest reasons for that difficulty was the heat combined with the humidity,” said Columbia River Fire and Rescue Division Chief Jeff Pricher.
Pricher says Sunday’s conditions made the fire burn hotter and longer than normal. He said it took longer to get the fire under control.