A fire official says a southwest Washington firefighter was briefly engulfed in flames after responding to a townhouse fire in Camas.

Camas-Washougal Fire Chief Nick Swinhart said the unidentified firefighter escaped injury when an unknown object fell from a window sill and exploded in flames, catching him on fire. The chief says the man's partner turned a hose on him to extinguish the fire. The firefighter was protected by his gear.

The cause of Thursday's fire is under investigation. Swinhart says the occupant described using a lighter to see under his bed because he had no flashlight. Fire was seen from the bed area a short time later and the occupant left the townhouse after calling 911. The resident was not hurt.