Two people were found dead inside a west Kalispell home that was gutted by fire early Wednesday morning.

Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset said the bodies were found after firefighters extinguished the majority of the flames at 305 Liberty St.

The victims were 74-year-old John Nelson and his 72-year-old wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Nelson.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said the cause of the deaths is “consistent with fire-related injuries,” but the official determination will be made after toxicology tests and other analysis are completed.

The cause and origin of the fire are being investigated by the Kalispell Police Department and the Kalispell Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to the scene after a neighbor called 911 at 1:44 a.m.

Kalispell Fire Department Operations Chief Dave Dedman said black smoke and flames were billowing from the home when firefighters arrived.

He said fire was coming from the front, rear and roof of the two-level home and that firefighters took a defensive approach because the conditions were too hazardous for search operations.

“We had indications that people were inside, however, based on the conditions on arrival no one would have been alive,” Dedman said.

Firefighters’ initial attempts to enter the building were unsuccessful.

“They got pushed out of the building due to the heat,” Dedman said.

Five departments — South Kalispell, Whitefish, Evergreen, Columbia Falls and Bigfork — responded to assist Kalispell firefighters.

Dedman estimated that up to 35 firefighters battled the blaze, with one suffering an injured wrist after slipping on ice.

Temperatures dipped as low as 5 degrees early Wednesday morning, causing additional problems for firefighters. Dedman said breathing gear was freezing to the backs of some firefighters and that other equipment malfunctioned.

Nate Horton, 38, said he just gone to bed when he heard a strange sound coming from across the street from his Liberty Street home.

“I actually thought it was a snow plow going by,” Horton said. “It was almost like a popping sound, and then kind of a rumble.”

Horton said the back yard of his neighbors’ home “was just glowing with yellow.”

“By the time we got over there, the windows were already popping out of the front of the house,” said Horton, who called 911 to report the fire.

A Kalispell Police Department officer was the first on scene, he said. The officer broke windows and yelled inside the home, Horton said, but there was no response.

“Black smoke was just pouring out,” Horton said.

He said the Nelsons were longtime residents of the home. Horton said his children often would shovel the Nelsons’ driveway.

“They were very nice people,” Horton said. “Our whole neighborhood is kind of in shock.”

Dedman said the investigation into what started the fire is ongoing. He said the house is a complete loss.

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com.