Fire displaces man from Kalispell home

Firefighters doused a blaze at a home on Airport Road in south Kalispell Friday morning after a man smelled smoke, called 911 and evacuated the residence.

The 60-year-old man was taken by ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released, according to South Kalispell Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Yerkes. 

South Kalispell firefighters responded to the fire just after 5 a.m. along with responders from West Valley, Smith Valley and Kalispell.

Yerkes said the fire was contained to a single room, but that smoke and heat severely damaged the rest of the home. The flames were contained within 15 minutes, he said.

“But by that time the house was completely charged with smoke,” he said.

Firefighters began clearing the scene and investigating the cause of the fire by 8 a.m. The cause is still under investigation, but Yerkes said it doesn’t appear to be suspicious.

The American Red Cross is providing temporary housing for the homeowner.

Airport Road was temporarily closed as about 25 firefighters responded to the scene.