Rental home consumed by blaze

A two-story rental property on Sunset Drive in Evergreen caught fire early Wednesday morning, leaving the second story destroyed and the first floor severely damaged.

The owner of the property was asleep in his home next door when he was awakened at about 3 a.m. by multiple fire engines roaring up the road to put out the blaze, according to Evergreen Fire Marshal Ben Covington.

“I’d say he was a little shocked,” Covington said.

No one was inside or living in the residence at the time, as it was under renovation, according to Covington.

Evergreen Fire and Rescue responded to the call, requesting the assistance of Whitefish, Kalispell and South Kalispell fire departments to help control the flames.

Covington said it took about eight agencies, 18 personnel and more than two hours to extinguish the fire. The home was cleared at around 5:30 a.m.

Law enforcement shut down access to Sunset Drive for about two hours while crews worked.

Covington said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.