Child playing with lighter accidentally starts fire

A 4-year-old playing with a lighter is believed to have caused a house fire Saturday afternoon after accidentally setting a mattress ablaze, causing about $125,000 in damage.

The Kalispell Fire Department responded to 709 Ninth Avenue West shortly after 11 a.m. after someone called 911 after being unable to put out the fire.

Upon arrival, firefighters found thick smoke and fire venting from three sides of the residence, all the occupants of which had already evacuated. The fire was knocked down within half an hour.

Heavy smoke, fire and water damage caused an estimated $80,000 in damage to the building and destroyed roughly $45,000 of the building’s contents. The building, a rental, housed one family on the upper floors and another occupant in the basement.

No one was injured. An investigation is ongoing.

Mutual aid was provided by the Kalispell Police Department, the Evergreen Fire Department, Flathead Electric Co-op, Northwestern Energy, the City of Kalispell Water Department, the Smith Valley Fire Department and the American Red Cross.