Thanksgiving fire burns part of West Valley barn

A Thanksgiving evening fire destroyed much of a barn on Lost Creek Drive west of Kalispell.

The West Valley Fire Department responded to the fire at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Thursday. According to Assistant Fire Chief Sean Bohannan, part of a barn on Lost Creek Drive went up in flames. Bohannan estimated about three-quarters of the barn burned before the fire was extinguished and the rest of the structure was saved.

There were no people or animals in the barn at the time of the fire, and Bohannan said no one was injured in the incident.

According to Bohannan, it appeared the fire was caused by a block heater on a tractor that was left plugged in.

“There was nothing too complicated about it,” Bohannan said.

The Whitefish Fire Department and the South Kalispell Fire Department also responded, and Bohannan said the West Valley Fire Department was grateful for the assistance.