Firefighters respond to Idaho Avenue blaze
<p>Nick Whiteman, left, Brady Fiscus and Jason Sunell, house fire at 311 Idaho, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013</p>
<p>LVFD firefighter Brady Fiscus sends a stream of water onto the house fire at 311 Idaho Sunday morning.</p>
<p>Jason Place, left, Neil Benson and Timothy Kim at work on the house fire at 311 Idaho Sunday.</p>
A passerby noticed smoke billowing from the home at 311 Idaho Ave. about 10:30 a.m. Sunday and notified authorities.
It was good thing, too, as a person was inside sleeping unaware of the fire, which started near the back of the home.
One of the first on the scene was Rose Howard who tried to wake the occupant.
However. it was Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Bo Pitman who was able to roust the occupant from their slumber.
In all, 16 firefighters from Libby Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire, which started near the back door of the wood-frame style home.
LVFD Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Steve Lauer said the fire originated in trash containers near the rear of the home.
“(It) appears accidental, but (an) ignition source (has) not yet identified,” Lauer wrote in his initial report.
Fire climbed up the wall and flames were extinguished in the soffit area. Firefighters also removed a section of metal roof from the home to extinguish flames that seemingly crawled up the wall and into the attic area.
The occupant, who has a medical condition, exited the home and sat on the front porch as firefighters extinguished the fire at the rear of the home.
The occupant was not injured.