Two found dead after house fire

Two people were found dead inside a west Kalispell home that was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning.

Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset confirmed that the bodies of two adults were found after firefighters doused the majority of the blaze at 305 Liberty St.

The identities of the victims have not been released.

Firefighters responded to the scene after a neighbor called 911 at 1:44 a.m. Kalispell Fire Department Operations Chief Dave Dedman said the home was fully involved with fire when firefighters arrived on scene.

"We had indication that people were inside, however, based on the conditions on arrival no one would have been alive," Dedman said.

Five departments - South Kalispell, Whitefish, Evergreen, Columbia Falls and Bigfork - responded to assist Kalispell firefighters.

Dedman estimated that up to 35 firefighters battled the blaze, with one suffering an injured wrist after slipping on the ice.

Temperatures dipped as low as 5 degrees early Wednesday morning, causing additional problems for firefighters.

Dedman said breathing gear was freezing to the backs of firefighters and that other equipment malfunctioned.