Libby woman, toddler son escape home fire
A Vicks Lane residence was destroyed in a fire on the night of Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. A woman and her 2-year-old son escaped the blaze. The woman suffered burns, but was treated and released from Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A Libby woman and her 2-year-old son escaped from a structure fire on Vicks Lane Saturday night that left the home destroyed.
According to Libby Volunteer Fire Chief Steve Lauer, the woman suffered second-degree burns to a hand and foot. She was taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center by Libby Volunteer Ambulance for treatment of her injuries and was released.
The family’s dog also escaped the fire.
Hauer said first responders got the call at 10:07 p.m. He was first on the scene and the structure was fully engulfed.
“It was a significant fire when we got here,” Lauer said. “We employed a defensive attack on the exterior before we could get inside.
“The contents and structure are a total loss.”
Lauer also said the woman grabbed her son and dialed 911 while running from the home.
“She had to go back inside to get the child a coat,” Lauer said.
Flathead Electric was at the scene to shut off the power to the home and deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office provided traffic control.
Lauer said the woman didn’t have renter’s insurance and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
A family member of the woman, who lives nearby, said the young mother had moved in with her.
“We’ve had many family members, friends and the Red Cross reach out to help,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking, but thankfully it wasn’t worse.”