Carport fire spreads to home

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake, Greenough/Potomac and Swan Valley volunteer firefighters responded to a house fire Oct. 31 around 4 p.m. on Gull Port in Seeley Lake. No one was home when the fire started. While the homeowner had many pets, they all are safe and accounted for. The cause is still under investigation but foul play is not suspected.

Seeley Lake Fire Chief Dave Lane said the fire started in the carport furthest from the house. It spread to the adjacent carport and then extended into the residence.

Neighbors started using garden hoses knocking down the flames on the outside of the house.

"They did a great job stopping the extension," said Lane.

The first unit from Seeley Lake arrived within 11 minutes of the call. Nine volunteers responded from Seeley Lake and seven firefighters came from the Greenough/Potomac Volunteer Fire Department and Swan Valley Emergency Services as part of mutual aid.

Lane said the flames went up one of the outside walls and into the attic. Using interior and exterior attack methods, firefighters contained the fire to the attic and one corner of the house. All resources were clear by 8:30 p.m. and the structure was checked periodically through the night to ensure nothing rekindled.

The residence was covered by insurance. The homeowner said everything that was smoke and water damaged will be removed and cleaned. The house was determined to be a total loss. The homeowner has secured a place to stay for the winter.

This was Lane's first house fire with the District. He said the national incident command system worked well for the Seeley Lake volunteers and with the other two departments.

"Because we all have similar training, everything fell together and it was really nice to see that," said Lane.

Lane said that the equipment is a little different between the different cooperators. He is hoping to help standardize this so it will be easier to work together.

"It didn't hinder us but it was something I saw that we can improve on for the future," said Lane.

Lane wants to remind the public that while many think responders aren't responding fast enough, taking things into their own hands puts them and firefighters at risk.

"Before we get there, we are on the radio, we are on the phone and we are managing the incident. People that are there think it takes quite a long time for us to get there, when actually it is not as long as they perceive," said Lane. "Because we are so concerned with bystander safety, it is difficult when people continue to enter the structure when we are trying to fight fire. We ask that people stay out of the area so we can do our job."