Pickup bursts into flames, chars home

A house in Whitefish was nearly lost after a pickup truck parked in the driveway burst into flames.

The Whitefish Fire Department arrived at the Green Place home just before noon on April 13 to find a fully engaged structure fire. The blaze charred the pickup before spreading to the garage and into the attic.

Crews were able to contain the fire to one side of the house, fire chief Tom Kennelly said. Smoke damage was found throughout the home.

Homeowner Brian Murphy recalled that he had left work and stopped at his house that afternoon to eat lunch. He was inside when a neighbor started banging on his door to alert him that his 2008 Ford F350 King Ranch pickup was on fire. Murphy went outside to find flames shooting out of the truck’s wheels.

He attempted to use a fire extinguisher, “but that did nothing,” he said.

He then grabbed a water hose but the heat was too much for him to get close enough.

“Then it blew up and it got to the house,” he said.

Murphy said he was sprayed with glass when the truck exploded in flames.

“I didn’t know what would happen next,” he said.

Kennelly said they won’t be able to determine exactly how the fire started due to extensive damage to the truck.

“It started in the engine,” Kennelly said.

Murphy said the truck was recently taken in for some maintenance work. The truck’s engine wasn’t hot when he drove it home for lunch and he doesn’t know why it caught fire. He’ll continue to look into the cause.

The family is now staying at a friend’s place. Most of the damage to the home, Murphy said, is from water and smoke and to the garage and roof. Personal items, such as clothing and furniture, are being looked at by a restoration company.

Murphy said neighbors have stepped up to offer help and the Don K car dealership has loaned him a vehicle for the interim.

“We’ve never even bought a car from him,” Murphy said. “We’re so fortunate for what we have in this community. Really nice, considerate people.”

Whitefish and Evergreen crews responded to the scene. No injuries were reported.