Samuels fire leaves family homeless

SAMUELS - A Bonner County family is homeless after fire raced through their manufactured home on Thursday afternoon.

The home at 215 Hulett Hill Drive was unoccupied when the fire broke out at about 3 p.m. The home was a total loss.

"It was pretty much on the ground when we got there," said Northside Fire Chief Brad Mitton.

The fire happened about a half hour before another fire in the fire district took hold at The Idaho Club. Crews from Northside battled both blazes.

The fire's cause remained under investigation on Friday.

An account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank to aid the homeowners, Dave and April O'Connell. The couple was at work and the children were away when the fire started, according to neighbor Mary Van Asperen.

She said the couple has 8- and 10-year-old daughters and a 5-year-old son who recently celebrated his birthday and lost all his gifts in the blaze. Van Asperen said April O'Connell is pregnant with a fourth child.

The family is being put up at a motel this weekend and the Red Cross is assisting them, Van Asperen said.

"It's a terrible time of year to have that happen," Mitton said.

How to help

An account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank to help a family who lost their home and possessions in a fire on Thursday. The account is named O'Connell Family Donation Fund.