Donations sought for fire victims

SANDPOINT — A bank account has been established to help a Sagle family that lost its home after an extinguished chimney fire rekindled last month.

The Chris and Carol Peine benefit fund is set up at Mountain West Bank and donations can be made at any of the bank’s branches in northern Idaho and eastern Washington.

There were no injuries in blaze, but the couple’s 100-year-old home on Lakeshore Drive and all their belongings were destroyed.

“They are wonderful people, and while they remain in great spirits they have been devastated by this loss,” said the family’s pastor, Bill Justus, who set up the account.

Chris Peine is a retired truck driver and Carol Peine is a clerk at the Bonner County Courthouse. They are the caregivers and legal guardians of their 7-year-old granddaughter, who has cerebral palsy.

Sagle Fire District firefighters were summoned to the couple’s home after receiving a report of a chimney fire on March 29.

Firefighters halted the fire, removed cellulose insulation they found in an attic and searched for signs of any hidden fire, according to Sagle Chief Rob Goodyear. Firefighters returned a number of hours later to make sure nothing was missed in the earlier sweep.

The family moved into a mobile home on their property for the night and awoke early the next morning to discover fire was engulfing their house.

The coupe has insurance, although it is not expected to fully cover their losses.

n Along with making donations at branches, checks made payable to the Chris and Carol Peine Benefit Fund can be sent to Mountain West Bank, P.O. Box 399, Sandpoint, ID. 83864.