An explosion and fire Friday night left one person dead and 34 individuals displaced from Glacier State Apartments in Kalispell.

The victim’s name and personal information have not been released, and the fire remains under investigation.

On Saturday morning, some residents came back to retrieve belongings or medication and find out when they could return. One resident walked over to the apartment building manager, Kim Jackson, and hugged her before leaving with family members who carried some of her belongings.

Jackson was thankful that the majority of residents were safely evacuated. Glacier State Apartments provides low-income housing for people over 62 or who are disabled.

“The fire department was outstanding,” Jackson said.

Kalispell Fire Department responded to the structure fire at 600 Liberty Street at 7:56 p.m. Friday.

When crews arrived, heavy smoke was coming from a second-story apartment window. Crews finished evacuating the building and put out the fire, which was contained to two apartments and the attic area.

Following evacuation, residents gathered at Faith Free Lutheran Church, where Red Cross members worked with residents to ensure they had shelter. At least nine residents, possibly more, checked into a hotel, according to Lew Savik, chair of the Flathead County Red Cross Disaster Action Team. To assist with lodging costs, Red Cross gave debit cards to residents who didn’t have a place to stay.

Kalispell Fire Chief Dave Dedman was on site at the apartment building Saturday to assess the damage while Flathead Electric Cooperative worked on returning electricity to at least a portion of the building that wasn’t severely damaged.

“At this point we’re trying to get the facility up and running so that some of the people can get back in their apartments soon,” Dedman said. “Basically half the building is untouched — the northern portion.”

The other half of the building, where the fire occurred, sustained a lot of water, smoke and structural damage, Dedman said.

“There’s a lot of damage to the major structural components of this part of the apartment,” Dedman said. “There was a breach in the wall and damage done from the explosion.”

It is only speculation that the explosion was linked to an oxygen tank, according to Dedman.

“We can’t release any cause because it’s still under investigation,” he said.

Resident Judy Cossette was in her apartment having dinner with a friend when she heard the explosion.

“It sounded like a bomb went off,” Cossette said.

When she heard fire doors slam in addition to the fire alarm she knew it was serious. Fire doors work to prevent a fire from moving from one part of a building to another.

“I could smell smoke in my apartment,” Cossette said, which affected her considerably because she uses an oxygen tank. On Saturday, her daughter Jenn was helping her retrieve some oxygen tanks and other belongings out of her apartment.

“I made it outside, and the back just went ka-boom — a big explosion — a big huge burst of black smoke — and then the black smoke started coming out the front of the apartment building.”

Cossette’s voice softened when she talked about learning that one of the residents didn’t survive.

“God brought us all together last night,” Cossette said, noting that it was a time when any differences between residents was put aside.

Cossette said she will likely have a place to stay with one of her daughters. In the meantime, she was concerned for other residents who might have lost all their belongings and not have renter’s insurance to replace them.

“When you’re this age and you’re displaced from your home, it’s a big kick in the butt,” Cossette said.

Mutual aid was received from Evergreen Fire, Smith Valley Fire and Kalispell Police Department.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.