Fire destroys Middle Road home

A Middle Road family lost nearly all their possessions after their house caught fire Nov. 15.

The fire broke out about 6 a.m. and completely destroyed the home and garage. Hayley Matthews and her 13-year-old daughter Kaden and 10-year-old son Darien barely made it out of the house before it was engulfed in flames.

Bad Rock Fire Chief Kirk Katzenmeyer said the family didn't even get their shoes on before they got out. But they did manage to save some dogs and puppies.

The house had wood heat and stored in the basement was both firewood and wood pellets.

But Katzenmeyer said the fire probably didn't start inside the house - investigators found it likely started outside, but he said the cause was undetermined. He said the northwest side of the home was the hottest part of the fire.

The two children attend Deer Park School and the school was accepting donations for the family, said head teacher Dan Block.

The family rented the home. In addition to Bad Rock, Columbia Falls and Creston firefighters also responded to the scene. It took nearly four hours to get the fire out.

The family was also getting help from the Red Cross.