House fire damage: $250,000

Nobody was home when a Rockefeller Drive home went up in flames late Thursday afternoon, according to fire officials.

The home at the west edge of Kalispell is considered a total loss with damages estimated at $250,000.

A neighbor rushed into the burning house in an attempt to rescue two dogs. He suffered smoke inhalation and injuries related to heat, according to Kalispell Fire Chief Dave Dedman.

One of the dogs couldn’t be saved from the fire. Another was rumored to have escaped with the man’s help. There were no other injuries.

Dedman said the cause of the fire is still unknown, but it appeared to have started in the kitchen.

The northeast corner of the house was the hardest hit.

In addition to fighting the house fire, crews worked to keep the flames away from other homes in the tightly packed neighborhood. Adjacent homes were evacuated but the flames didn’t appear to jump to other houses.

The American Red Cross has responded to aid displaced residents.

The Kalispell, Evergreen and West Valley fire departments responded with fire trucks. Medical responders from the Whitefish Fire Department assisted and utility and public works officials also participated.

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