Christmas tree sparks fire in Kila home

A Christmas tree didn’t give a Kila resident a very happy holiday after sparking a trailer fire on Fichters Way.

The resident was awoken shortly after 11 a.m. by the smoke that had filled the trailer. She was forced to escape through her bedroom window since the living room and its contents were ablaze.

After she called 911, the Smith Valley, West Valley, South Kalispell and Evergreen fire departments responded.

“We luckily got there real quick,” Smith Valley Fire Chief Jill Cheman said. “Another five minutes and it would have burned completely to the ground. We were lucky to contain it to the room and its contents.”

Along with damage throughout the immediate area of the fire, electrical fixtures were melted by the heat and the entire home was damaged by smoke.

The resident, although unburned, was transported to the emergency room for treatment of other conditions. Her children were at school at the time of the fire.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.