An inch of snow covered the ground in Bigfork at 8:22 Friday morning when an alarm went out to the Fire Department for a structure fire.
“We were really fortunate that it was a cold day,” Fire Chief Wayne Loeffler said.
Loeffler said the cold weather and snow helped firefighters keep the fire from spreading along the grassy hillside and trees next door to the house. The home sits on the hillside above the Bigfork schools. Traffic was blocked on the west end of Commerce Street for most of the morning.
Loeffler was told a family of six was living in the home and everyone made it out of safely. He said one woman was treated for smoke inhalation later in the day.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Besides Bigfork Fire, firefighters from Creston and Ferndale also responded.
The home is considered a total loss, Loeffler said. The family is being taken care of with help from Crossroads Church of Bigfork.
