Residents escape burning home in Whitefish without injury

A house fire in Whitefish over the weekend caused no injuries but left an East Second Street home a total loss, fire officials said on Monday.

Crews responding to the 1500 block home about 11 p.m., April 8 found the house fully involved, said Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page. Everyone inside made it out safely, he said, and no firefighters were injured while fighting the blaze.

Whitefish received mutual aid from Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Big Mountain Fire District, Kalispell and West Valley Fire and Rescue, Page said. Kalispell Fire Department sent a ladder truck and the others dispatched engines, he said.

“It just shows you the great help [we get] from our neighbors, all the mutual aid that came in to help,” Page said.

Page described the house as a single story home with a basement. Crews took a defensive approach to the fire after determining that all the occupants had exited, he said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by about 4 a.m., he said.

“Long night and a lot of water,” Page said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.