Fire gives Evergreen a scare
<p>A DNRC helicopter flies through smoke to drop water on the scene of a massive fire on Mountain View Drive in Evergreen on Wednesday, August 5. Evergreen Fire and Rescue were joined by the Kalispell and Creston fire departments, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, forest firefighters and other first responders. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>View from atop the Evergreen Fire and Rescue ladder truck of a fire on Mountain View Drive in Evergreen on Wednesday, August 5. The helicopter is from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Fire departments from across the Flathead Valley scrambled to contain a fire that consumed multiple out-buildings and a home in Evergreen late Wednesday afternoon.
It started about halfway up Mountain View Drive. Neighborhood residents said flames first appeared in a group of sheds. It then raced across a grassy, empty lot and onto a home that was completely consumed by flames.
A 14-year-old boy, Lars Foley, was among the first to spot the fire from his family’s home a block over. He said he went inside and told his mother to call 911. By the time he came back outside, it had moved up the block.
“It just raced across the grass,” Foley said.
Aided by wind, flames spread quickly northward and into a home. Firefighters worked to keep the fire from spreading to other homes. Spot fires were reported as far north as Reserve Drive.
The lot of the main home was full of various sheds, which contained cars, equipment and wood piles. Everything was lost in the fire.
The south side of the fire was extinguished first. By 5:30 p.m., fire crews began working the interior of the residential lot. An official with Evergreen Fire Rescue said they had stopped the flames from spreading northward at that time.
Nearby residents and witnesses were asked to leave the area by Flathead County emergency services. Onlookers were impeding the ability of fire crews to reach the scene.
Fire crews from multiple departments responded, with Evergreen Fire Rescue in command. Two helicopters made round trips to drop water.
It’s unknown at this time if anyone was injured in the fire, but one resident of the burned home reportedly was unharmed.
Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.