House and barn destroyed by fire Saturday

A host of local fire departments responded to a house fire at the Perkins residence off Middle Road Saturday afternoon about 4 p.m.

Bad Rock Fire Chief Kirk Katzenmeyer said the homeowner at 550 Neighborly Way at opened the garage door to see smoke billowing out of the structure and called 911.

Firefighters from Bad Rock, Columbia Falls, Coram-West Glacier, Hungry Horse-Martin City as well as the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department and the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation all responded to the blaze.

The home and barn, which was attached, was a total loss. With the area extremely dry, the blaze caused spot fires up to 100 yards away to the north, Katzenmeyer said.

Firefighters weren’t off the scene until 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

The cause of fire remains under investigation.