Washougal building destroyed by fire

Fundraisers have been established to help several businesses that were damaged or destroyed by a fire on Sunday, Oct. 20.
The businesses affected by the fire at a building at 921 4th Street include the Riverside Laundry laundromat; Racers Division, a motorsports retail store; and Wanda Walker’s Massage and Bowenwork Clinic.

At 12:42 a.m., members of the Camas-Washougal Fire Department (CWFD) were dispatched to a reported structure fire at Riverside Laundry, according to a news release issued by CWFD. A second alarm was called, bringing 11 units from Vancouver Fire Department and East County Fire and Rescue.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s office determined a pile of sheets spontaneously combusted, sparking a fire that spread to the rest of the building. No injuries were reported, but the building and its contents were declared a total loss, with damages of approximately $150,000, according to the news release.

Wanda Walker’s Massage and Bowenwork Clinic’s GoFundMe account, organized by Courtney McPherson, is asking for $10,000. It can be found at gofundme.com/f/1sf6k0haeo. According to a post on the account page, the fire destroyed “(Walker’s) business and everything she has accumulated for her business over the years,” including massage tables, a reflexology chair, essential oils and products, furniture, decorations, art and more.

“On top of replacing all of these things, (Walker) also needs to find a new place of business as soon as possible, all while not making money because she currently has no place to work out of,” the post states. “The clinic she just lost was three rooms, one bathroom, and a large waiting area, which is hard to find in the same area for a reasonable price. This is devastating to our family to watch, as something she has worked so hard for has quite literally gone up in flames. We are scrambling trying to pull everything together to help her reestablish somewhere quickly and as painlessly as possible, but it’s never easy to handle situations like this.”

Racers Division’s GoFundMe account, organized by John Cooper, brother of owner Jared Cooper, is asking for $45,000. It can be accessed at gofundme.com/f/racers-division-fundraiser. According to a post on Racers Division’s Facebook page, employees were able to save a “large portion” of their tools, but the status of their electronics equipment and components, diagnostic equipment, and various parts and materials “is unknown as there is a large amount that is displaced.”

“We are doing our best to sift through the wreckage to salvage all we can, but we are currently displaced without a shop,” the post states. “Our shop has been our biggest labor of love, and this is a true heartbreak for us, but all of the support we have been getting from people has been astounding.”