Fire levels large barn

SANDPOINT — Fire destroyed a large barn at the iconic Gold Creek Ranch on Monday night, according to the Northside Fire District.

There were no injuries. The fire was reported shortly after 10 p.m.

“When we pulled out onto Highway 95 from Kootenai Cutoff you could see the smoke column and the glow,” said Northside Fire Lt. Dan Knott.

Flames had already overrun the 6,000-square-foot barn by the time firefighters reached the scene on the east side of U.S. 95. However, firefighters were able to keep flames from spreading to another structure which held fuel or brush and trees.

People at the ranch used a dump truck to push a large horse trailer out of the barn, but not much else was saved, according to Knott.

The cause of the fire remained unclear on Tuesday.

“It’s still under investigation, but there’s not a lot of stuff to work with,” Knott said, adding that nothing hints at foul play.

The cost of the damages was still being calculated, Knott said.

Ten apparatuses from Northside responded to the blaze, as did a water tender from the Sagle Fire District.

“We had a good response from our volunteers,” said Knott.