Lightning sparks house fire on Middle Road

The Daily Inter Lake

A house on Middle Road caught fire Sunday evening after it was struck by lightning, firefighters said.

But the small fire did very little damage before it was extinguished, according to the Creston Fire Department.

Residents in the home when the lightning strike occurred called to report the flames.

About 30 firefighters, including personnel from the Badrock and Evergreen fire departments, responded to the blaze.

Also Sunday evening, the West Valley, South Kalispell and Smith Valley fire departments extinguished a fire in a barn on Fox Farm Road, also believed to have been caused by lightning.

Windy weather caused trees to topple across power lines on Bachelor Grade Road, where hail had been reported, and on Third Avenue East in Kalispell. Downed power lines were reported on Yeoman Hall Road as well. Area fire departments, which also received reports of smoke in the Patrick Creek area, responded.