Fire damage still being sorted out at apartments

By JOHN STANG/Daily Inter Lake

One family displaced in Friday's massive Mountain Villa Apartments fire has been relocated to another apartment in the complex.

A total of 10 individuals or families lost their homes in the 1 a.m. fire that lit up northern Kalispell's sky.

The 141-unit complex has two open apartments available for the displaced tenants, said Mountain Villa manager Floyd Bechtold.

He is waiting to hear from the displaced tenants and then will look at seniority and ability to live on upper floors in moving two families in.

Insurance adjusters have not yet inspected the damage, according to John Barlow, president of the Hagadone Real Estate Holding Co., which owns the insured complex.

Consequently, cost estimates and a rebuilding schedule have not been established yet, he said.

The company is a subsidiary of Hagadone Corp., which owns The Daily Inter Lake.

Bottom-floor tenant David Bernach, 45, was charged Friday 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 that does not have sprinklers.

Bernach suffered some first- and second-degree burns. No one else was hurt.

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

Five apartments were gutted and another five suffered smoke and water damage. All need to be fixed or rebuilt, Bechtold said.

Firefighters from eight local fire departments battled the fire at Mountain Villa.