Stolen Evergreen fire vehicle found damaged

Authorities have recovered a sport utility vehicle that was stolen from Evergreen Fire Rescue last weekend.

The Dodge Durango was a service vehicle with equipment and insignia for the department. It was stolen from the fire hall parking lot in the early morning hours of July 4.

At about 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Kalispell Police Department responded to a call from a resident who spotted the Durango in a closed garage near Whitefish Stage Road.

Kalispell police alerted the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle was damaged, had been painted lime green and was missing some items.

“They had stripped all the emergency equipment out of it,” Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said.

“They had painted it with spray paint.”

The house where the vehicle was found reportedly had been repossessed and is owned by a bank.

An investigation into the theft is continuing.

Evergreen Fire Rescue declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, but the vehicle was insured and will be replaced.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.