Saturday, September 12, 2026
53.0°F

Fire in Kalispell mobile home park extinguished

DERRICK PERKINS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 11 months AGO
by DERRICK PERKINS
NEWS EDITOR Derrick Perkins serves as News Editor at the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees daily news coverage and works closely with reporters to plan, edit and publish stories across print and digital platforms. Perkins helps coordinate coverage of local government, public safety, business and community developments throughout Northwest Montana. He works with the reporting staff to strengthen journalism while maintaining consistent daily coverage. His role helps ensure the newsroom delivers timely, accurate reporting that readers rely on. IMPACT: Derrick’s work keeps readers informed about the decisions and events shaping their communities every day. | September 28, 2023 12:30 PM

Firefighters from Kalispell and Evergreen doused a blaze in a lean-to used for firewood storage in a mobile home park near the intersection of Whitefish Stage Road and East California Street on Thursday morning.

Assistant Kalispell Fire Chief Jessica Kinzer said emergency crews were routed to the fire about 7 a.m. A resident of the adjacent mobile home awoke to the noise of the fire and shepherded the building’s remaining two occupants and three pets outside to safety, she said.

No one was injured in the fire, Kinzer said.

The blaze drew two engines from Kalispell and one from Evergreen along with a medical unit from the Smith Valley Fire Department. About 14 firefighters worked the scene.

Though it made a mess of the stored firewood, the blaze was limited to the lean-to, Kinzer said. She expects the mobile home eventually will be habitable again.

Kinzer said the cause of the fire is unknown, though it did not appear to be intentionally set or sparked by electricity.

“Everything went really well,” she said of the response. “It was extinguished quickly and we had enough manpower.”

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].

ARTICLES BY DERRICK PERKINS

September 11, 2026 8:20 a.m.

Columbia Falls therapist faces child pornography, other charges

A Flathead Valley therapist is facing multiple felonies, including 15 counts of sexual abuse of children, after authorities allegedly found child porn, drugs and bomb components during a Sept. 2 raid of his Columbia Falls home.

Man fired upon by Kalispell Police officers allegedly hurled cans, rocks during confrontation
September 11, 2026 midnight

Man fired upon by Kalispell Police officers allegedly hurled cans, rocks during confrontation

The man arrested after Kalispell Police officers opened fire earlier this month allegedly hurled rocks, cans and bottles at them during the confrontation.

Therapist accused of keeping cache of child porn, bomb parts
September 11, 2026 midnight

Therapist accused of keeping cache of child porn, bomb parts

Scott Thomas McFarlane, 41, is being held in the county jail with bail set at $1 million following the search of his Shadow Wood Drive home.