Another Bigfork-area home goes up in smoke

Snowflakes mixed with ash on Monday afternoon as a home on Winterhawk Drive north of Bigfork was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Creston, Badrock and Bigfork fire departments responded to the blaze at about 1:40 p.m., but not in time to save the structure.

“It was very involved when we got there” said Bigfork Fire Captain Katie Edwards. “When we pulled up on scene the roof had already collapsed and was in flames.”

No one was injured in the blaze.

Because the fire was so far involved by the time it was reported and firefighters arrived, efforts were focused on containing the flames and protecting other structures, including the home situated about 50 yards away.

“We went right into defensive mode to keep it contained,” Edwards said.

Firefighters had to park their equipment at the neighbor’s home and run long hoses to the structure because the driveway wasn’t plowed and firefighters feared their equipment would become mired in the snow and ice.

“It was difficult to get in, and once we entered the driveway we figured we’d be stuck” Edwards said. “We could get a huge engine in because of its weight, but we couldn’t get a rescue truck in.”

About half a dozen fire trucks and tankers were on hand to douse the flames, with about 25 firefighters doing the heavy lifting.

The fire, the latest in a string of house fires in the Bigfork area, serves as a reminder for homeowners to be vigilant during the cold winter months.

Edwards cautioned residents to be safe with heating arrangements, be sure chimneys are clean and heaters are free of debris and clothing, and under no circumstances bring portable heaters inside.

Besides that, Edwards was adamant about plowing and graveling difficult driveways and clearly marking homes and drives with addresses so responders know where they’re going when they reach a scene.

“If there hadn’t been people outside and the smoke, we might have driven right by,” she said.