Firefighters rescue Camas man, dogs from Valentine’s Day fire

Condition of 70-year-old man, who suffered smoke inhalation and went to hospital for treatment, is unknown at this time

By Kelly Moyer

February 16, 2018 11:20 am

News, News

Damage from a Feb. 14 fire at a Camas residence off Northwest 27th Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Camas-Washougal Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal firefighters rescued a man and his two dogs from this home on Wednesday, Feb. 14, after a small kitchen fire spread, causing smoke to fill the residence. The firefighters union later filed a complaint with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, alleging that low staffing numbers at the fire department lead to unsafe working conditions and make it hard for firefighters to put out fires and save people trapped inside burning buildings. (Photo courtesy of Camas-Washougal Fire Department)

More damage from a Feb. 14 house fire off Northwest 27th Avenue. Fire crews rescued a 70-year-old man and his two dogs from the fire. The status of the man, who suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to an area hospital, is unknown at this time. (Photo courtesy of Camas-Washougal Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal firefighters cut into the garage door at a home off Northwest 27th Avenue in Camas on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to rescue a man trapped inside. (Photo courtesy of Camas-Washougal Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal firefighters rescued a 70-year-old Camas man and his two dogs from a small house fire earlier this week.

When Camas-Washougal Fire Department (CWFD) crews arrived at the home off Northwest 27th Avenue in Camas around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, they discovered smoke coming out of the front door and heard someone yelling for help from a garage attached to the house.

“Recognizing they faced an imminent rescue situation, the engine crew called for more assistance while donning their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA),” states a CWFD press release sent to media this morning.

Firefighters Mark Widlund and Jeff Martizia cut into the garage door and found a disoriented man who was, according to the CWFD report, “nearly incapacitated by the smoke.” The firefighters rescued the man and his two dogs. Emergency crews transported the man to an area hospital, where he was treated for possible burns and smoke inhalation. His current condition is unknown.

Units from the Vancouver Fire Department and East County Fire and Rescue assisted CWFD. Investigators believe that the fire started in the kitchen and then “quickly spread to the surrounding wall and ceiling,” according the the CWFD report. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly, but said there was “extensive smoke damage to the entire structure.” No damage estimate is known at this time.

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