Welding blamed for fire in former Conlin's building

A late-morning fire in the former Conlin's Furniture building on Main Street in Kalispell sent up smoke visible from Big Mountain, snarled traffic downtown, and damaged the top of the vacant building being remodeled as part of Glacier Bank.

No one was hurt.

The fire looked far more destructive than it was, sending up dense, black smoke propelled by a fat fireball on the roof.

The fire is believed to have started from welding on the underside of the roof.

Across the street, Glacier Bank President Robert Nystuen was in the bank's board room at 11:23 a.m. when someone there noticed the fire in the former Conlin's building.

"You could see a fair amount of flames coming up from the roof," Nystuen said. The staff called 911 and evacuated the bank headquarters.

Within minutes, the flames fed on plastic foam panels that were stacked on the roof, producing black, petroleum-based smoke.

Ironworkers Chris Pedersen and Josh Paul were welding inside the building when the melted plastic dripped from above into their area and they heard others yell.

"I just poked my head over the top" onto the next floor and saw a pile of burning foam, Pedersen said. "It was too far gone."

"It went up quick," Paul said.

The two men and about 15 other workers ran from the burning building.

Witnesses said flames first appeared in the northwest corner.

"It was pretty scary," said Herb Anderson, owner of Montana Frameworks across the street at 141 Main St. He was in the back of his shop when he heard someone yell.

"I came up there. There were a few flames in the [second floor] windows," Anderson said. "Then something on the roof caught fire. Then black smoke. Whatever caught fire on the roof took off like crazy."

Secretary Lisa Matzke and client Stephenie Jones heard the commotion at the Vicki D. Hileman CPA office at 149 Main St. They said flames soared at least 20 feet above the roof and the building appeared engulfed within a minute.

"We could feel the heat in here," Matzke said. "It's sad. They worked so hard" on the building.

A sturdy brick wall was an effective barrier to the fire, which still moved into the adjacent building that houses Columbine Glassworks & Gallery at street level and the Glacier Symphony and Chorale office above. Firefighters quickly doused the fire there.

About 25 Kalispell firefighters shut down the Conlin's fire, declaring it under control just an hour after it was reported. Firefighters used about 50,000 gallons of water. Other fire departments covered Kalispell's calls during the fire.

The smoke and sirens drew people from buildings downtown and from greater distances. Traffic was diverted around Main Street, spilling onto side streets where police tried to manage the volume of onlookers and others.

Kalispell Police Chief Frank Garner said seven officers worked on traffic control during the fire.

"When you close down a U.S. highway, which happens to be Main Street, at noon," traffic can become a big issue, he said.

Adding to it was the breakdown of a semi truck on Main and Third streets that took a half hour to tow.

Traffic "wasn't moving fast, but it was moving," he said. "Most people were very gracious, better than usual. We had this sense that everybody understood."

For his part, Garner is impressed with the fire department's work.

"I'm amazed, considering the fire I saw when I came around the corner, that more of that block isn't a parking lot. They really did a heck of a job."

It was too soon Tuesday to assess damage.

The two-story building is steel and concrete, said Dave Meredith of Meredith Construction Co., which is remodeling the annex for Glacier Bank.

"We don't know" how much damage there is, he said Tuesday afternoon. He suspects smoke damage and soot inside the building.

The remodeled building will connect with the main Glacier Bank building across Second Street with a sky walk - the first such architectural feature in Kalispell. The building was expected to be completed in November or December, with the sky bridge going up afterward, followed by remodeling of the main bank building.

Nystuen said it's hard to know how much the fire will set back the project.

"That's to be determined. We'll assess how much structural damage there is and go from there."

He said he appreciated the quick response from the Kalispell Fire Department, which is only a couple of blocks from the building.

Kalispell was assisted by firefighters from Bigfork, Creston, Evergreen, Somers and Whitefish fire departments.

Kalispell also requested help from Missoula and Polson fire departments.

"They are our nearest resources with elevated apparatus," said F. Ray Ruffatto of the Kalispell Fire Department. "You need to get water up in the air. We only have one ladder truck."

The age of downtown buildings and their proximity to one another make a fire like Tuesday's a potential disaster for an entire block, so "we ordered early and ordered well" for back-up resources, Ruffatto said. Eventually, the request for help from Polson and Missoula was canceled.

The building, on two lots at 146 Main St., was built in 1956, according to an architectural study by local historian Kathy McKay.

The original wood-frame buildings there had false fronts and housed a variety of businesses, she found.

From 1901 or earlier until 1923, Wilson's Department store stood on the property, catering primarily to loggers.

The building that caught fire Tuesday housed the JCPenney store for years and then Conlin's Furniture. There are three levels inside the two-story building, which was remodeled in 1991.

Tuesday's fire displaced the Glacier Symphony and Chorale office next door, less than four weeks from the start of its season. The organization is looking for temporary office space.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com