Family needs housing after fire

 The Jan. 11 fire that destroyed the Coram home of Joshua Armstrong and Stephanie Johnson has left the family in dire need of housing.

The Red Cross provided the couple and their two children with a three-day voucher to a local hotel. Since then, they have been renting a cabin in Martin City for $250 per week.

Armstrong said they would like, if possible, to be able to stay in the Columbia Falls School District where their 18-year old daughter Iesha is a senior and their 14-year-old son Lance is in eighth grade.

Once they find more permanent housing, the couple can begin to replace their furnishings and household goods.

The family lost all their belongings in the fire that started just after 7:30 a.m. in an overheated gas furnace and moved up the wall to the attic. The couple and their children, along with a cat and two dogs, escaped unharmed. A second cat died.

Armstrong is a Flathead Valley native and Johnson has lived in the Flathead Valley for 12 years. Both are working.

The family also needs clothing, particularly warm clothes and boots:

 Iesha wears a size 7-8 pants, medium shirts and size 7 1/2 shoes.

 Lance wears a size 42-by-36 pants, extra large or XXL shirts and size 12 shoes.

 Stephanie wears size 14 pants, large or extra large shirts and size 9 shoes.

 Josh wears 33-by-32 pants, large or extra large shirts and size 10 1/2 shoes.

Donations may be brought to the Canyon Community Church in Coram.

Pastor Ken Ainsworth is coordinating the effort. Call 387-9452.

An account for donations also has been set up at Park Side Federal Credit Union under the name Josh Armstrong.