Dog rescued after man sets his home on fire

A 40-year-old Kalispell man was arrested on two outstanding warrants and on charges relating to his alleged attempt to burn his home down on Aug. 27.

Firefighters from Evergreen Fire & Rescue found a dog in the back of the trailer on Trumble Creek Road that was unable to get out. The dog was rescued and resuscitated, but two kittens were reportedly lost in the fire.

Dan English was arrested and later charged with felony arson and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and obstructing a police officers. He faces up to 20 years and $51,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.

English already had a $35,000 warrant out of Lewis and Clark County and a $10,000 warrant out of Broadwater County. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 19.

According to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to English’s home around 9:30 p.m. after receiving a report that he was there. English was wanted for absconding on his probation in October 2012. He had been convicted of theft and bad checks.

When English tried to escape out the back door of the trailer, he ran into a deputy and went back inside. A deputy then saw him pouring gasoline inside the home and called for firefighters.

English eventually exited as the fire grew inside the trailer and then refused to comply with orders by deputies, who used a Taser to subdue him.

A next-door neighbor who owned the trailer English lived in was evacuated from her home. Firefighters from Kalispell and West Valley fire departments assisted in putting out the fire.