Fire causes minimal damage to local motel

A Monday evening electrical fire left one room of Super 8 Kalispell minimally damaged, but did little to hamper overall operations, fire officials and hotel management said.

“If you didn’t know there was a fire and you walked into our hotel today, you wouldn’t know because it looks and smells great,” general manager Mary Moderie said Tuesday.

According to Kalispell Fire Chief Dave Dedman, a woman reported that she smelled smoke in the motel at around 5:53 p.m. and the fire alarm was pulled.

Dedman said his crew found smoke coming from behind an outlet in an internal wall. A fire extinguisher had already been used on the fire.

Dedman said the damage was estimated to be around $10,000. The fire was put out by 7:36 p.m. and guests were allowed to return to their rooms.

One room was put out of service because of the fire, but the guest was easily moved.

“I think the management of Super 8 did well, and we got lucky,” Dedman said.

Reporter Megan Strickland may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.