Veteran and wife find home in C-Falls after fire

A veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq has moved into an apartment in Columbia Falls with his wife after their home in Whitefish was destroyed in a November fire.

Ryan and Crystal Pengelly and Ryan's mother Bonnie lost everything when they fled their single-wide trailer just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 7. The three managed to escape in their pajamas and bare feet while saving their dog and two newborn kittens.

The fire claimed everything in the trailer, from their clothing to Ryan's military medals and citations. He had returned a month earlier after serving seven years in the military and was still recovering from a brain injury sustained when he survived a bomb blast in Iraq.

Ryan and Crystal are slowly getting their lives back on track. They are currently living in an apartment complex in Columbia Falls managed by an acquaintance of Crystal's.

Ryan said they're rebuilding their lives with help from the community, including Frank Wright, of Wright's Furniture in Whitefish, who donated a complete bedroom set and other furniture. Montana Sen. Jon Tester's office is working on getting Ryan's lost military medals and awards replaced.

The Pengellys still need clothes and a kitchen table and chairs. While a good portion of Ryan's clothing was on its way back from the military when the fire occurred, all of Crystal's and Bonnie's clothing was burned in the fire. For now, they have just enough clothing to get by.

Bonnie, who works as a traveling certified nursing assistant, got some help with clothing for work. A fellow nurse had a spare set of scrubs waiting for her when Bonnie showed up after the fire in a pair of sweat pants and a shirt.

Bills also are posing some problem, Crystal said, as neither she and Ryan are currently not working.