After fire, tenants find new homes

The Daily Inter Lake

Five families and individuals displaced in the massive Nov. 23 Mountain Villa fire have been moved to different apartments in the same complex.

Another five individuals and families decided to move elsewhere, according to Floyd Bechtold, Mountain Villa's manager.

Swank Enterprises has been hired to rebuild the apartments. John Barlow of Hagadone Real Estate Holding Co. said reconstruction would be tackled as soon as possible.

Insurance adjusters are scheduled to inspect the damage soon.

The fire gutted five apartments and damaged five more in the 141-unit complex on West Reserve Drive just outside Kalispell.

Bottom-floor tenant David Bernach, 45, was charged with negligent arson for allegedly trying to start a fire in his fireplace with gasoline.

Some gasoline spilled out of the fireplace and started the quick-spreading fire in the complex, which does not have sprinklers.

Bernach suffered some first- and second-degree burns. No one else was hurt, although four kittens died in the burned apartments.

Bernach is scheduled to enter a plea in Flathead County District Court on Dec. 11.

Firefighters from eight departments battled the fire.

The complex is owned by Hagadone Real Estate Holding Co., a subsidiary of Hagadone Corp., which owns the Daily Inter Lake.