Yakima Fire Department (YFD) crews responded yesterday, Sunday, April 14th, to a fire in the 400 block of St. Helens Street. (It is the practice of the Yakima Fire Department to not release the specific address of a private home involved in a fire or other emergency response)
YFD responded to the call at 10:39 pm last night about a fire involving a vehicle and a carport. The fire had broken through a window of the nearby house and burned some curtains and clothing inside the home.
The fire also caused the power lines serving the house to arc and fall to the ground. YFD restricted access around the downed power line until crews from Pacific Power & Light arrived and addressed the hazard.
The occupants of the house requested Red Cross assistance. Two families were displaced after PP&L cut power to the duplex home.
No injuries were reported.
The fire burned a carport that housed a pickup and an adjacent shed. All were considered total losses. The house sustained damage to exterior paint and siding, however it was saved from significant damage due to the efforts of YFD firefighters.
The house across the alley sustained some damage from radiant heat, which melted vinyl siding and privacy fencing. The neighbor had several vehicles parked next to the original fire that were damaged from heat and smoke.
The initial estimated dollar loss was $50,000. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation at this time.
Approximately 16 YFD firefighters were on scene responding to the fire.