Last Thursday Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) responded to a fire at a small home on the 10200 block of Cove Road, where a renter woke to find his bathroom on fire. Investigators later determined that a short in a the bathroom’s ceiling fan started the blaze, said Capt. Josh Dueweke.

After the man opened the bathroom door, fire and smoke did significant damage at the home. However, VIFR’s quick response time, about three minutes, saved the structure, Dueweke said.

“I don’t believe it’s a total loss,” he said.

About a week earlier, on Friday, June 15, VIFR was called to a house fire on the 22700 block of Wax Orchard Road, another rental house where a short, this time in a lamp cord, started a fire in a second-story bedroom. Responders were able to contain the fire to the bedroom. However, there was significant smoke damage, and the renters, a family with four children, were forced to move out.

Sally Adam at The Harbor School began a collection for the family; they had no renters’ insurance, and many of their personal items were destroyed.