Flathead Lake home lost in Sunday fire
<div lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><div class="WordSection1"><div>Fire crews responded Sunday to a house fire in Rollins. The photo was taken with camera phone through a telescope from across the cove.</div></div></div>
A home outside of Rollins on Flathead Lake is in ruins after a fire erupted late Sunday night.
Fire crews from across the area were dispatched to the home off Shelter Bay Lane around 11:30 p.m., to find the house fully engulfed.
Polson Rural Fire Chief Jack Clapp said the occupant of the residence was awakened by the sound of fire alarms and escaped unharmed.
Clapp said an ember shower from the blaze threatened neighboring homes and property.
As water supply from the community’s hydrant dwindled, tender trucks were called in from surrounding rural fire stations, as well as Polson and Ronan.
With the combined response and cold, rainy weather, Clapp said crews were able to contain the blaze with minimal damage to surrounding structures.
“It would have been worse if the weather had been otherwise,” Clapp said. “It could have burned up the whole neighborhood.”
Clapp said the large, cabin-style home was a complete loss and estimated damages could top $1 million. He said on Monday that the cause of the fire was under investigation but believed to be accidental.