PORT ANGELES — Fire crews at 5 p.m. today were still mopping up after a blaze destroyed a camper and heavily damaged a detached garage and workshop on property about a half-mile south of Port Angeles High School.
Crews from both the Port Angeles Fire Department and Clallam County Fire District No. 2 were called to the blaze in the 3249 S. Regent St., at about 3:30 p.m., Port Angeles Fire Chief Ken Dubuc said.
“When we arrived, the building was pretty full involved,” Dubuc said.
Cliff Smith, the owner of the two-story building, said no one was in the camper or garage during the fire and that no one was seriously injured.
Smith said he was in his home when his neighbor came to his door to tell him his camper was on fire.
The camper was parked inside the detached garage, which stood just north of Smith’s home.
Smith ran from his house, propped a ladder against the camper and aimed a garden house at the blaze coming out of the camper’s roof.
The fire soon became so hot it singed Smith’s arm, and he said he had to jump down from the ladder as the fire spread.
The fire appeared to have burned at least half of the garage, reaching into its attic.
Dubuc estimated that fire crews took the better part of 30 minutes to knock down the fire.
A cause of the fire has not been determined. Smith said he suspects the electrical wiring system of the camper, which he bought in 2008.
As of late today, Smith said he had not had a chance to go into the garage to check on the damage.
Smith said he was using the garage as a workshop and for storage.
“I’m a hunter, so I got a pile of antlers in there about 9 feet high,” Smith said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
