Woman hurt saving puppies from fire

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell woman was hurt Sunday morning when she saved puppies from a burning storage shed.

At a little after 5 a.m., the fire was reported at 1520 Sixth Ave. W.

Kalispell Fire Department sent two engines and an ambulance. They found a detached storage shed full of fire.

A woman suffered minor injuries when she rescued puppies from the burning structure. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Both she and the dogs were said to be in good health Monday.

Fire officials believe a heat lamp for the puppies may have started the fire, according to F. Ray Ruffatto, fire inspector for the city.

He estimates damage at about $5,000 for the 12-by-20-foot storage shed and its contents.

Earlier Sunday, firefighters went to the Flathead County Justice Center, where an electrical panel in an elevator equipment room activated a smoke alarm at 2:40 a.m.

The fire was out before firefighters arrived.

"The fire appears to have resulted from a paper notebook being too close to, or coming into contact with, a transformer unit," Ruffatto said in a press release.

"Occasionally we'll find equipment rooms and mechanical rooms loaded with storage. Fortunately that was not the case here," the press release said.

The fire department also credited the jail's housekeeping staff for limiting the spread of the fire.

The elevator serves the jail from the basement to the third floor, Undersheriff Mike Meehan said.

Repairs to the elevator are under way.