Evergreen Fire Department kept busy over the holidays

Evergreen Fire Rescue saw a busy holiday season, responding to multiple blazes including one on Christmas Eve and two on Monday.

The most recent fire the department responded to occurred at 2:06 a.m., Dec. 26 at a three-story home on Aspen Court. Evergreen Fire Rescue Chief Craig Williams pointed to a wood stove as the source of the conflagration.

“It started on the ground floor and moved into the attic space around the chimney,” he said.

Alarms awoke two people inside the home and they evacuated the residence safely, according to Williams. He emphasized the importance of installing and regularly checking fire alarms.

“It was a fairly serious fire,” Williams said of the blaze.

Although sustaining significant smoke and water damage, the home wasn’t a total loss. Williams attributed this to the quick response of firefighters despite poor road conditions due to the recent severe weather.

“We kept the fire contained to the area and walls around the chimney,” he said. “It was burning for quite some time in there.”

The fire took roughly 45 minutes to extinguish and mop-up lasted around four hours.

Other responding fire departments included Kalispell, South Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Creston.

The Evergreen Fire Rescue also provided mutual aid to a structure fire on Fourth Avenue in Kalispell that was reported at 10 a.m. the same day. No additional information was immediately available about that incident.

On Dec. 24, Evergreen Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire on Montana 35 at 9:21 a.m. The single-family home was unoccupied at the time. Firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen. The residence sustained heavy smoke damage.

Other responding fire departments included Kalispell, South Kalispell, Creston and Smith Valley.

“That fire was the result of an external power source to keep warm — a propane heater,” Williams said.

He asked that residents remember to take precautions with portable heaters to prevent fire hazards. Never leave them unattended and make sure there is proper clearance between them and flammable materials, walls and ceilings, Williams said.

Given the severe weather, fire hydrants may get buried in the ensuing plowing operations, delaying the response time of firefighters as they locate and uncover them, Williams said.

“If folks have the opportunity to dig out fire hydrants it would be appreciated,” he said.

The International Association of Fire Fighters advises removing snow and ice from a hydrant, clearing a perimeter of about 3 feet around it in addition to clearing a path to the street.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.