A man and his dog are now facing homelessness after their fifth-wheel trailer fire burned Tuesday on Grigg Road near Glacier Park International Airport.

“I’ve never saw something so fast go up in flames,” Richard “Harry” Landes said of the fire. Landes is disabled and was at home when the fire broke out at 11:53 a.m. He and his dog, Petey, had been living in the fifth wheel, which was owned by a friend.

Landes said he went back inside the trailer and saw smoke and flames in the back of the trailer, where Petey was lying on the bed.

Landes grabbed Petey, a Dogo Argentino, and left, fearing that the flames would spread to a nearby propane tank.

“My computer was vaporized,” Landes said.

He was not able to rescue anything except Petey from the fire, and he has spent much of the last week trying to get a new driver’s license, new bank card and other items necessary for day-to-day life.

The Red Cross paid for a few nights at LaQuinta Inn, but Landes has found that having Petey with him has made his search for permanent housing difficult. Landes is adamant about not abandoning the dog, which is his only family in the Flathead Valley.

“It’s not donations I really want,” Landes said. “I would rather have somebody rent me a place.”

Landes has a budget of up to $550 per month for rent.

Those interested in helping Landes can call him at 407-8827.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.