Two fires that forced a reported 18 people from their homes early Sunday appear to have started by accident and did an estimated $2 million in damage.
Firefighters responded to Sunday’s first fire around 12:30 a.m. at Pine Grove Apartments, 4119 N.E. St. Johns Road, in the Minnehaha neighborhood just north of Vancouver city limits.
Smoke and fire damaged four apartments in the two-story building, Deputy Clark County Fire Marshal Dan Young said.
“Luckily, they had fire walls to keep it from expanding even more,” he said Only the four units were affected. The Red Cross said it responded to provide lodging assistance for 10 adults, a child and several pets.
Firefighters called for a second alarm, and more than 30 firefighters responded.
Young said the investigation isn’t finished, but it appeared candles or smoking material on the deck of a second-story unit sparked the fire. Young estimated the fire did about $850,000 in damage.