Camas flood, water, fire and mold damage cleanup

Camas sits on the Washington bank of the Columbia River, across from Troutdale and about 20 miles northeast of Portland. Its land rises from the river and Camas Slough up to Prune Hill, an extinct volcanic vent, and the city limits hold several lakes plus the lower Washougal River. Growth has been steady, with housing units nearly doubling between 2000 and 2020.

Fire & Water Energy handles referrals only and does not do restoration work. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to connect your call with an independent restoration contractor serving Camas and east Clark County. Help depends on which independent contractors are available. Both how it works and the referral disclosure spell out the limits of what we do.

Rivers, lakes and the winter storm record in Clark County

The Washougal River runs 33 miles from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and meets the Columbia at Camas. Its highest recorded flow came in the December 1977 flood, when discharge reached about 40,400 cubic feet per second.

FEMA records show Clark County in six major disaster declarations since 2000: storms with flooding and landslides in 2006 (DR-1671), a 2007 winter storm (DR-1682), the record and near-record snow of 2009 (DR-1825), a 2016 winter storm with straight-line winds and flooding (DR-4253), and winter and severe storms in 2024 (DR-4775) and 2026 (DR-4906). Snow and wind, as much as rain, define the local damage season.

Common sources of water damage in Camas homes

With much of the city built since 2000, many calls involve newer plumbing that still fails: loose supply line fittings, washing machine hoses, ice maker lines and water heaters. Older homes near downtown, where the paper mill founded in 1883 occupies the west end, can add aging pipes and roofs to that list.

Winter storms bring their own leaks. Snow load and wind can open up roofing, and a hard freeze can split pipes in garages or crawl spaces. A typical contractor for water damage restoration in Camas will stop the leak, remove water, check hidden moisture with meters and set up drying equipment. Learn more on our water damage restoration and burst pipe pages.

Federal disaster declarations that included Clark County

FEMA records show Clark County was included in 6 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (4 severe storm, 2 flood, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Camas was affected. The most recent:

• 2026 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906)
• 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4775)
• 2016 – Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and a T (DR-4253)
• 2009 – Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow (DR-1825)
• 2007 – Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-1682)
• 2006 – Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-1671)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Fire and smoke damage: what cleanup involves

Cooking, heating equipment, candles and electrical problems start most home fires. Beyond burned materials, the smoke leaves residue that migrates through vents and into closets, cabinets and fabrics, and the odor can linger for months without proper treatment.

Contractors commonly secure the property first, then sort what can be cleaned from what has to go, wash soot from structural surfaces and deodorize. Damage from fire hoses is handled like any other water loss. Background reading: fire damage restoration plus smoke odor removal for lingering smells.

Flooding, snowmelt and fallen trees after storms

Homes near the Washougal River, Lacamas Creek and the lake shorelines are the most likely to see surface water during heavy rain or rain on snow. On higher ground such as Prune Hill, the bigger risks tend to be runoff from slopes, landslides, and trees falling on roofs during wind events.

Treat floodwater as contaminated: anything porous that it soaked, such as carpet, pad and lower drywall, is usually removed. A reputable company will usually clean, disinfect and dry the structure before rebuilding. Riverside and hillside owners alike may want to skim flood damage restoration and storm damage cleanup beforehand.

Mold after leaks and long wet seasons

In the damp months, materials that get wet indoors dry slowly, and mold can take hold within one to two days on drywall, carpet backing or wood. Bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces and the back of closets on exterior walls are common trouble spots.

EPA guidance says small areas, under about 10 square feet, are often manageable by a homeowner with gloves, goggles and an N95 respirator. Larger growth, mold inside HVAC systems, or any contamination following floodwater or sewage generally calls for a professional. Read about mold removal.

First moves for Camas residents after damage

• Dial 911 for fire, injuries, a gas smell or electrical danger near water.
• Shut off the main water valve, and cut power to wet areas if the panel is reachable from dry ground.
• Keep children and pets out of floodwater and away from downed lines.
• Photograph and film damage before cleanup, and save receipts for any emergency supplies.
• Call your insurance company or agent soon. Coverage depends on your policy, and rising-water flood losses usually need a separate flood policy.
• Follow Clark County emergency alerts during winter storms.

Then call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to find an independent contractor. Browse other Washington service areas.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around Camas that callers often mention include:

• Downtown Camas

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Camas):

• Washougal · 2 mi
• Troutdale, OR · 3 mi
• Fairview, OR · 4 mi
• Gresham, OR · 6 mi
• Orchards · 10 mi
• Five Corners · 11 mi

Restoration guides

• Water Damage Restoration
• Flood Damage Restoration
• Burst Pipe Water Damage
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Removal

Local resources for Camas residents

• City of Camas

Sources

• Wikipedia: Camas, Washington
• Wikipedia: Washougal River

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