Monday fire damages Careywood residence

CAREYWOOD — No injuries were reported following a multiple-alarm structure fire at 529 Crosswhite Road early Monday morning, the Sagle Fire District reported.

The cause of the 5 a.m. blaze is undetermined, but fire officials believe it was related to the wood-burning stovepipes within the walls of the two-story, single-family residence.

Sagle Fire officials said Wayne Johnson, 46, awoke for an unknown reasons and ultimately smelled smoke. He found his living room filled with smoke, dropped to his hands and knees and called 911. He safely exited the residence with his dog.

There were no other occupants in the house at the time of the fire.

Approximately 20 firefighters from the Sagle and Timberlake fire districts, in addition to the Sandpoint Fire Department responded to the call. Nine pieces of fire apparatus were utilized at the scene.

It took 36 minutes for firefighters to knock down the fire.

The fire resulted in fire and smoke damage. Damage to the home was estimated at $30,000, while the damage to its contest was pegged at about $20,000, Sagle Fire officials said.

Fire damaged structural members of the wall and the attic above the stovepipe where the fire spread to. Damage to the home’s contents was primarily due to smoke. Firefighters did have to cut the outside of the wall off of the home and remove a large amount of drywall in order to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished.