WASHOUGAL, WA -- A man armed with several high-powered rifles and handguns fired shots out of a burning Washougal home "continually for well over an hour-and-a-half," according to Sgt. Kevin Allais with the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
One of the bullets smashed the driver's side window of a patrol car as an officer approached the scene. The bullet did not hit the officer, but the glass did, causing minor injuries, according to Scott Schanaker with the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
SWAT crews swarmed the scene and helped police and neighbors get out safely. Schanaker said the suspect fired at least one neighbor.
Bobby Joe Bean, who also lives nearby, fells like he barely escaped with his life.
"He had to make a decision there, of whether to shoot me or not and he just shot shots, thank God," Bean said. "That was probably the longest run of my life. I was hoping not to get shot, trying to get away from that house."
Eyewitness Travis McMahon told KGW he started to videotape the fire on his cell phone and one of the bullets suddenly whizzed right by his head.
"You can hear it (on the video) literally, go right past me, fffffft, right by my head," he told KGW.
Raw video: Witness videotaping as gunshots go by
"I feel completely lucky" not to be hurt, McMahon said.
The gunfire was initially reported by a neighbor who went to the door of the burning home and heard a voice say "go away," according to Chief Scott Koehler with East Valley Fire & Rescue. He also said that there were a number of explosions as the fire continued to burn.
Firefighters had to pull back from the blaze when the shots rang out around 8 a.m. The home, located at 3275 F Place, burned to the ground, along with an outbuilding, as firefighters stood back.
McMahon said flames shot at least 30 feet into the air.
"The thing was like a fireball and there were explosions going on," one neighbor told KGW.
"He has a lot of fireworks over at that place. He fires them off in July and New Year's Eve. He fires them off," added neighbor Gary Ecoff.
Viewer photos: Washougal house fire
Power was also cut off in the area as a precaution.
Police have not said who they believe was inside the home or released any sort of suspect description.
The home was a three-bedroom ranch style house owned by Steven D. and Leona M. Stanbary since 2002, according to Clark County property records, reported by The Columbian. Neighbors said Leona's sister also lived in the home.
Neighbors told KGW Steven Stanbary was a landscaper and his family had been struggling with financial problems.
At nightfall, several blocks were still cordoned off, some residents remained evacuated and SWAT officers were still searching the area.
The Washougal School District initially put Hathaway Elementary, Gause Elementary, Washougal High School, and Excelsior High School in lockdown. But the lockdown has since been lifted. Buses were taking children home one hour late, officials said. More: Washougal school info.
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