Welding spark ignites Kalispell fire

An ominous column of smoke rose above Kalispell Wednesday morning, but it turned out to be a small fire in a wrecking yard.

While using a torch to cut catalytic converters off cars, a Kalispell Wrecking employee accidentally ignited a nearby trash pile containing car parts, tires and seats, according to Kalispell Fire Chief Dan Diehl.

Diehl said the approximately 20-by-20-foot pile in the Fifth Avenue East yard created a “pretty impressive column” of smoke, sending flames as high as 50 feet.

Kalispell Fire Department crews were quickly on the scene around 10:40 a.m. and the fire was knocked down in a matter of minutes.

No injuries were reported and the fire caused only minor property damage.

The man was advised by firefighters to keep a fire extinguisher on hand in the future.