Fire damages six units at Vista Park Homes apartment complex

BREWSTER – A multi-alarm fire damaged at least six apartments in the 13-building, 25-unit Vista Park Homes housing complex at 509 S. Fourth Street in Brewster on Wednesday evening, July 12.
Before the blaze was contained, units from Bridgeport, Pateros, Malott, Okanogan, Methow and Omak joined Brewster fire teams to keep the flames from spreading to more units in the Vista Park complex.
More than dozen occupants were displaced by the smoke and flames and many found refuge in a Red Cross shelter set up at Brewster High School.
A media release from the Brewster Police Lieutenant, Kelly Hook said that the fire broke out at 6:53 p.m. Brewster Police Department officer Michael Robbins and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy, Rory Williams “arrived and found the fire spreading through the shrubs lining the fence line on the southwest corner of the complex,” Hook wrote.
As the fire spread, Robbins and Williams began knocking on doors advising residents to evacuate.
Arson suspected
“Witnesses said the fire was started by someone burning a small pile of garbage near the little league concession stand which was also damaged in the fire,” Hook wrote.
The Washington State Patrol, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Brewster Police Department and Brewster Public Works blocked off streets to control traffic while the fire was being contained.  The flames were confined to just two buildings of the complex involving six residential units but others sustained smoke damage.
Several firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation or exhaustion caused by the heavy smoke and intense heat, but no injuries to any Vista Park occupants were reported.
“Authorities are currently following leads in their continuing investigation,” Hook wrote.