Fire victim treated for smoke inhalation

A Libby woman was hospitalized after suffering smoke inhalation during a fire Tuesday evening at the Park Apartments.

Libby Volunteer firefighters responded to the 17-unit complex at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, to extinguish a fire resulting from an unattended cooking oil fire in the basement apartment rented to a mother and her baby daughter. The mother was the smoke inhalation victim.

According to a report, the first of 26 firefighters was on the scene within a minute with the first attack crew there in three.

Libby Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Steve Lauer said quick response by Lincoln County Sheriff’s officers, Libby Police and residents minimized the risk to residents and the apartments.

The fire was extinguished promptly and as many as four other apartments were ventilated for smoke. The estimated damage to the single apartment is $15,000.