Unattended iron causes small house fire
Area Fire Departments
A morning fire left a 70-year-old man temporarily without a home Friday. No one was injured.
An off-duty Whitefish firefighter happened to drive by the two-story house at 5875 U.S. 93 south and saw smoke coming from the roof around 8:42 a.m.
The Whitefish Fire Department was on the scene with a crew of 17 by 8:47 a.m. and had the fire out within about ten minutes. The department had requested aid from Columbia Falls Fire Department, but turned the engine around because it wasn’t needed.
An iron that had been left on ignited the fire in the living room and kitchen area, which sustained some fire damage. The rest of the house sustained heavy smoke and heat damage. No one was home at the time.
Two smoke detectors were located in the house, but one had a dead battery and the second was missing a battery.
Fire crews cleared the scene at 10:34 a.m.
Flathead County sheriff
A stray Jack Russell Terrier snarled and barked at a woman Thursday afternoon after she tried to read its tag.
An intoxicated customer was apparently very aggressive and throwing things at a gas station on U.S. 2 East around 9:45 p.m. Thursday. Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies took him home to a sober person.
Two men kept walking by a Welf Lane home at different times, a resident told deputies. Authorities were unable to locate the suspicious persons.
A Riverbend Road resident reported rifle retorts around 11:26 p.m. Thursday.
A light fell “really fast” from the sky in the Tally Lake area around midnight Thursday. It is unknown what caused the flare.
A Pit Bull was chasing people Thursday in the Braig Road area. It is unknown who owns the dog. Deputies were unable to locate the animal.
Studded snow tires were stolen from a Foys Lake Road residence Friday afternoon.
After a mean stray cat hissed at her, a woman called deputies around 2:45 p.m. Friday.
Deputies received 132 calls for service between 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Kalispell police
A man punched her in the face and tried to steal her purse, a woman told Kalispell Police Thursday night. Officers arrived at the bar where the alleged attack occurred, but saw no attempted purse snatching on the security tapes. They did, however, see the woman fall on her face while she was alone on the bar’s deck.
A 19-year-old man was arrested for shoplifting and a warrant after he allegedly stole a Gerber knife from a sporting goods store on Hutton Ranch Road Thursday afternoon.
Kids were seen smoking after they got off a Glacier High School bus at Hawthorn Avenue and Liberty Street around 4 p.m. Thursday. The issue was referred to the school resource officer.
Walking along First Avenue East North, two boys were reportedly checking vehicle doors to see if they were unlocked Thursday afternoon. Police arrested one for being a minor in possession of tobacco and the second for criminal trespass to a vehicle and obstructing justice.
A 25-year-old woman stole a swimsuit from a sporting goods store on Hutton Ranch Road Thursday around 5:11 p.m.
A 3-year-old and a 4-year-old child were located soon after they were reported missing from an Ashley Drive residence Thursday around 5:15 p.m.
A 10-year-old took off running from a Fifth Avenue West residence Thursday evening. He was not wearing shoes or a coat. He ran north on Fifth Avenue West and made it all the way to Tenth street before he was located.
A man picked her up by her coat and threw her across the room, a woman told police around 6:41 p.m. Thursday. He was gone when police arrived at the East Nicklaus Avenue residence. Officers are investigating.
A woman who passed out on the snow birm around midnight Friday was assisted by police.
Officers pursued a vehicle as it drove through town Friday around 1:50 a.m. and later arrested the 26-year-old driver for DUI.
A concerned citizen notified police after seeing a 17-year-old throw a smoothie cup from a car’s window. Officers spoke with the teen’s mother, who said she will talk to him about littering.
Officers received 67 calls for service between 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Whitefish police
Whitefish Police received 30 calls for service between 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Columbia Falls police
Columbia Falls Police received 16 calls for service between 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 3:30 p.m. Friday.