Fire victim needs help getting home

The Daily Inter Lake

A Flathead Valley couple are putting their lives together again after surviving a propane explosion that destroyed their camper home Nov. 22, but there are still hurdles to clear.

Steve Bell, 42, and his girlfriend, Carol Sechrist, 47, were living in a 13-foot camper behind Christian Life Fellowship near Whitefish and managed to escape the trailer after Sechrist lit a cooking stove and it exploded.

Bell was treated for burns at North Valley Hospital and Sechrist, who was more seriously injured, was hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Bell stayed with Bob and Jill Shimko for a few days following the fire. After someone donated a replacement camper for the couple to live in, he set it up at LaSalle RV Park near Columbia Falls.

Meanwhile, Sechrist has been staying with an uncle in Seattle since she was released from Harborview.

Now Bell's main concern is getting Sechrist home from Seattle. They hit a snag because she lost all her identification in the fire and therefore can't travel via public transportation.

"I'm hoping I can get some help to get my girlfriend home," Bell said.

He has been overwhelmed by the generosity of area residents.

"I want to say thank you very much for all the help after the fire," Bell said. "It's been phenomenal, just phenomenal."

Anyone who can help Bell with travel arrangements can leave a message for him at the LaSalle RV Park, 892-4668.