Fire destroys cars, garage in Kalispell

A structure fire destroyed a garage and four cars on Santa Fe Street in Kalispell early Saturday morning, but left the home’s occupants unharmed.

Three people were at the residence working on the cars inside the garage when fumes from an open gas tank ignited, according to Kalispell Fire Chief Dave Dedman.

All three managed to escape before the flames engulfed the garage and vehicles.

The Kalispell Fire Department responded around 1 a.m. and was assisted by Evergreen, Whitefish and Smith Valley fire departments, Kalispell Police and Flathead Electric Cooperative.

Dedman said the blaze took more than three hours to extinguish and responders cleared the scene just after 4 a.m.

The garage and all four cars were a total loss and the house attached to the garage saw extensive smoke damage that will leave the residents temporarily displaced.