Crews extinguish brush fire that threatened several homes in Vancouver

CLARK COUNTY Wash. (KPTV) - A brush fire was threating several homes in Vancouver, WA on Monday afternoon, prompting officials to briefly issue an evacuation order.

The brush fire was burning north of Northeast 16th Street and moving to the south, according to emergency management officials.

Several witnesses calling 911 reported seeing flames approximately ten feet tall burning uphill through thick vegetation, being driven by strong winds.

Firefighting crews struggled to contain the flames due to thick vegetation, steep terrain, and twenty-mile-per-hour winds. Crews also had to carefully work around several high-voltage overhead lines located directly above the fire.

Houses located on the North side of NE 16th Street were urged to evacuate.

It took 17 fire units and about 35 firefighters to bring the two-acre fire under control.

The evacuation lasted about three hours.

No injuries were reported.

The fire is under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshal Office.

Copyright 2023 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.