Flathead Valley residents are rallying to help a Coram family of eight who lost all of their belongings in a house fire Monday morning.

Dennis and Bea Beard woke to their son yelling “fire” and were able to escape the blaze without injury. The couple have six children, the youngest of whom is 18 months old. An older dog died in the fire.

An electrical malfunction is believed to have caused the fire, which destroyed the home on U.S. 2.

The American Red Cross stepped up with emergency assistance for some basic necessities and arranged motel accommodations through Friday night. The Beards will stay with family members until they can find a home to rent, according to Sharon Bengtson, a friend of the family who is leading the fundraising effort.

The Beards hope to find a rental between Columbia Falls and West Glacier, she said.

Bengtson has established an online donation center through Youcaring.com (www.youcaring.com/emergency-fundraiser/beard-family-disaster-fund/305941#.VN0HeeZVRnI.email). 

Donations also may be made through Whitefish Credit Union where Dennis Beard has an account.

The Beards work at Glacier View Golf Course during the summer season. Their children attend school in Columbia Falls.

Columbia Containers is donating a container for one month to help store items, Bengtson said.

Clothing and kitchen items may be dropped off at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road north of Kalispell, during church office hours Monday through Thursday. West Glacier School also is accepting smaller donated items.

Anyone with furniture to donate may email Bengtson at [email protected] or [email protected].

Arrangements are still being made to store larger items until the family finds a home.

The family was renting the home on U.S. 2 and has no insurance to cover their personal belongings.