A structure fire erupted at Kalispell’s Quality Inn on Wednesday afternoon, destroying large segments of the hotel and shutting off traffic on Appleway Drive.
Officials report that a construction worker was working in a wall in one of the hotel rooms when the wall caught fire. The specific cause of the fire remains unclear. According to Kalispell Fire Department Assistant Chief Jessica Kinzer, the department received reports of a structure fire at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Firefighters went into “defensive mode” about 20 minutes after they arrived on the scene, fighting the fire externally as it was too dangerous to enter the building.
Firefighters from the Evergreen, Whitefish, West Valley and South Kalispell fire departments arrived on scene to support the Kalispell Fire Department. Smith Valley Fire’s ambulance crew and the Kalispell Police Department were also on scene to assist with medical needs and evacuation.
Kinzer told the Beacon that the back side of the hotel “will be lost,” but that it may be possible to protect some segments of the building.
The Quality Inn is located between Appleway Drive and U.S. Highway 2 in west Kalispell.
There have been no reported injuries.
“The hotel did a great job. They got everybody out,” Kinzer said.
The assistant fire chief said at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday that the department expects to be fighting the fire through the night.
According to Flathead Electric, there were 2,090 customers without power in west Kalispell and Kila as of 4:55 p.m. on Wednesday. Firefighting teams placed ladder trucks over electrical lines, requiring the electric company to shut power off.
UPDATE: Kinzer reported at 10:02 a.m. on Thursday that the fire has been put out. Part of the building, including the hotel lobby and casino, are considered in “good shape” aside from water damage. The Kalispell Fire Department remains on scene and will be applying a layer of foam to further smother the fire.
According to Kinzer, the department was able to fight the fire using a new drone purchased through a Federal Homeland Security grant. The drone allowed firefighters to fly above the hotel, using heat sensors to detect places where the fire was still burning. Kinzer said this is the first major fire during which the department was able to utilize the technology.
The owner of the hotel arrived in Kalispell from out of state and will be working with guests to help them retrieve their belongings in the coming days.
According to Flathead Electric, power was restored to all customers at 6:07 p.m. on Wednesday.
This is a developing story.
