Two homes burn near Ferndale

The Daily Inter Lake

The Ferndale Fire Department responded to and extinguished a pair of structure fires just over the Lake County line this past weekend.

No one was injured, but one of the homes was a total loss, according to Ferndale Fire Chief Marv Eaves.

Firefighters were paged to a two-story log home at the end of Red Owl Road shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday after flames spread from the building's basement up a south-facing wall.

"It ran from the basement up the wall, all the way to the second floor and into the attic," Eaves said. Damage was contained mostly to the one wall and the house is still livable, he added.

Investigators believe the fire was caused by a propane torch the homeowner was using to thaw frozen water pipes.

Before leaving, the homeowner had the presence of mind to shut any open windows and doors, depriving the flames of oxygen, Eaves said.

"That kept the fire from spreading and kept it reasonably small," Eaves said.

Personnel from the Ferndale, Bigfork, and Swan Lake fire departments fought the fire for more than two hours.

"The initial fire was knocked down pretty quickly, but then we had to open up the walls to get the rest," Eaves said.

On Sunday, the Ferndale Fire Department was paged out shortly before 9 a.m. to a structure fire on Wapiti Lane.

"When the guys got on scene that one was already through the roof," Eaves said. "It was blowing and going when they got there."

Initial reports have led investigators to believe the fire was caused by a space heater in one of the home's bedrooms.

"Almost two-thirds of that structure was burnt," said Eaves, who characterized the home as a total loss.

Personnel from the Ferndale, Bigfork, Swan Lake, Creston, and Somers fire departments fought the fire.

Deep snow and freezing temperatures hindered firefighters at both houses.

"I mean, it was miserable cold," Eaves said. "The fatigue factor from it being so cold just sucks it right out of the guys."