KELLOGG — A woman was hospitalized and her dog rescued following a house fire Friday afternoon in uptown Kellogg. 

Just before 5 p.m., emergency crews from Shoshone County Fire Protection District #2 were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they were met by law enforcement officers who reported hearing screams coming from inside the residence. 

“Crews were able to locate the resident inside her kitchen, lying on the floor, having a difficult time breathing,” said Fire Chief John Miller. “Firefighters dragged the resident to the back door when law enforcement assisted in getting her outside the home.” 

The fire was largely contained to the kitchen area, but the rest of the home suffered extensive smoke damage, Miller added. 

In addition to rescuing the homeowner, emergency personnel were able to save her dog, who had also been trapped inside the burning house. 

The woman sustained several burns to her feet and suffered injuries to her arm and shoulder. Due to the severity of her condition, she was airlifted to Kootenai Health via Life Flight for further treatment. 

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Chief Miller emphasized the importance of fire safety precautions. 

“We want to remind everyone to make sure they have working smoke detectors and to keep an eye on their extension cords and power strips,” he said. 

Miller also commended the swift and coordinated response of the emergency crews and law enforcement officers, crediting their teamwork with preventing a potentially tragic outcome. 

“Because of the quick responses, thinking, and actions of the first responders, we got the fire knocked down pretty quickly,” Miller said. “This was a great job by both departments and really showed the power of working and training together. A huge thank you to the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Kellogg Police, Osburn Police, and Pinehurst Police.”