Fire damages Columbia Falls home, garage

A fire heavily damaged a Columbia Falls home Saturday about noon. The fire broke out at the Telling residence on Fourth Avenue West.

According to neighbors at the scene, the residents were able to get out alive with their dogs, though one man was being treated for a cut on his hand.

Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said the fire started in the garage and spread to the home. One bedroom was heavily damaged as was the attic. A pickup truck and four-wheeler in the garage were destroyed, but the homeowner was able to get another vehicle out of the garage, though the topper burned off of it.

The Red Cross was helping the family with lodging.

Columbia Falls, Bad Rock, Evergreen, Whitefish and Three Rivers EMS all responded to the scene. Powerlines were down near the home and neighbors reported that their power was out as a result.

Hagen was still on the scene at 5 p.m. He said the exact cause was still under investigation.

The home was on the north end of the street and was very close to other homes. Firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to other structures.