Blaze damages Kootenai home

KOOTENAI — No injuries were reported after a structure fire on Second Street on Saturday.

The cause of the fire is still be probed, although Northside Fire District Chief Brad Mitton said there is nothing to indicate foul play.

“It’s still under investigation,” he said on Monday.

The blaze was reported at 8:54 a.m. A couple who lived there were away from the home when the fire started, Mitton said.

The first engine was on the scene within 4 minutes because Northside volunteers were conducting training at their station in Ponderay. An engine and crew from the Sandpoint Fire Department also responded, as did Bonner County EMS.

“It was a great effort on everybody’s part,” said Mitton. “It was an excellent response.”

Mitton said firefighters concentrated their efforts on confining the fire to the single-story section of the home, although a two-story section incurred some heat and smoke damage.