Fire destroys Sunnyside residence
A fire, which destroyed a structure in the Sunnyside area early Monday morning, could be seen from all over. The fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. (Photo courtesy BILL BORDERS)
(Photo courtesy BILL BORDERS)A fire, destroyed a structure in the Sunnyside area early morning morning, could be seen across the water.
SANDPOINT — A Sunnyside home is a total loss following an early Monday morning fire, according to Northside Fire District officials.
The home’s residents were in the structure, located on Lower Sunnyside Road, at the time the fire was discovered but were able to get out and were not hurt, Northside Fire Chief Brad Mitton told the Daily Bee.
The fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. Monday, prompting a Nixle alert about 24 minutes later from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office asking county residents to avoid the area to give crews room to work.
The structure, which had a living area above a shop is considered a total loss, Mitton said.
Northside fire officials and the Idaho Fire Marshall’s Office determined the fire started outside the home and burned inward. Mitton said it’s possible that there was some kind of electrical problem which led to the fire, but it’s too early to make that determination if that’s what caused it.
Helping fight Northside firefighters and volunteers at the scene were Selkirk Fire firefighters, the Idaho State Fire Marshal and Idaho Department of Lands.
While there wasn’t a water source at the scene, Mitton said crews were able to shuttle water from the boat launch to the fire scene, a process that “went really well.”
At one point, debris from the fire floated into the air and landed in the urban interface area, causing a secondary fire. However, with the assistance of IDL crews, firefighters were able to contain the spot fire, Mitton said.
“It could have been a real mess,” Mitton said. “It was a great effort on everyone’s part.”
The home is expected to be turned back over to the homeowner, Mitton said.
The fire remains under investigation by Northside Fire with the assistance of the Idaho State Fire Marshal.
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.