Sept. 27--An early-morning fire completely destroyed a Truman neighborhood apartment Thursday, officials said.
A fire sparked just after midnight in an upstairs unit of the Willowbrook Apartments, 3517 N.E. 51st St. near Northeast St. Johns Road, according to emergency dispatch logs.
Firefighters arrived about 9 minutes after the blaze was reported and found heavy flames and smoke coming from an upstairs window.
Crews attempted to fight the fire from inside the apartment, but the heat was too intense, said Capt. Dave James, spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department. Another crew shot water in through the window, which calmed the flames enough for firefighters knock out the fire from inside the apartment, he said.
Three people escaped from the apartment uninjured and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Their apartment will need to be completely gutted after the fire, James said.
About 15 others from three apartments in the same building were displaced by smoke damage, according to James.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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Copyright 2012 - The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
