SAGLE — A tentative cause has been identified in connection with a Tuesday house fire, which completely gutted the Mountain Ridge Drive area, Selkirk Fire, Rescue & EMS officials said.

The home was heavily involved in fire when Selkirk crews arrived, Dale Hopkins, Selkirk Fire Chief Dale Hopkins said.

The structure is a complete loss, he said.

"In talking to the homeowner, it was either a chimney fire or a fire in the wall behind the chimney," Hopkins said.

By the time the homeowner realized he had a fire, it was already in the walls. Hopkins said the individual reported the fire from a neighbor's home.

Hopkins said he did not have an estimated value of the home or items lost in the fire.

Responding to the fire were Selkirk crews from the Sagle, Sandpoint and Westside Fire stations, Northside Fire and the Idaho Department of Lands.

Selkirk, Westside and Northside crews focused on the structure fire while IDL crews patrolled the home's perimeter to ensure the fire did not spread into the surrounding forest interface.

Hopkins said crews were able to keep the fire contained to the structure.

While it is uncertain exactly how the fire started, Hopkins said it's always a good practice to ensure regular chimney cleaning and inspections. In this case, Hopkins added the homeowner had had the chimney cleaned in the fall.

"Sometimes, I'm not saying it's the case here, when there's burning over the winter, things can happen," he added. "We just don't know yet [on the exact cause of the fire.]"