A mid-afternoon structure fire on Monday, January 26, left a Longview home uninhabitable and caused more than $200,000 in damages. The blaze, reported around 1:26 p.m. in the 600 block of 23rd Avenue, fully engulfed a detached garage before spreading to the nearby residence.

According to the Longview Fire Department, crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions and worked quickly to contain the spread. The main residence suffered significant structural and smoke damage, while a neighboring home sustained exterior damage to siding, windows, and fencing. A vehicle near the garage was also destroyed.

More than twenty personnel from the Longview Fire Department, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, and Medix Ambulance were dispatched to the scene, supported by the Longview Police Department, Cascade Natural Gas, and the Public Utility District. Firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the flames and conducted overhaul operations to prevent rekindling. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

Investigators remained on site through the afternoon to determine the cause and origin of the fire, which remains under review. The affected homeowners have been displaced, as the residence is considered uninhabitable.

The Longview Fire Department emphasized the critical role of working smoke alarms and urged residents to test detectors monthly and replace batteries regularly. “Smoke detectors save lives,” the department reminded in its statement, underscoring that vigilance in fire prevention remains the community’s strongest line of defense.

This incident comes amid a stretch of cold, dry winter weather that increases fire risk in detached structures and garages where fuel, tools, and heating elements often mix. City officials continue to encourage neighbors to check on vulnerable residents and keep heating sources maintained and safe.