Greetings, Beacon nation! And happy Monday. I’m Tristan Scott and I hope you’re all ready to Roundup after a summer weekend that delivered hot temperatures and a few near-misses across the Flathead Valley. Local emergency crews from a half-dozen departments flirted with disaster as a structure fire ignited in a vacant building near downtown Whitefish and a wildland fire sparked near Kila. The causes of both fires remain under investigation but were likely human caused.

Print the Supermutt and I were driving down Big Mountain Road last night when the dramatic smoke plume from the Whitefish structure fire swung into view like a scene out of “Dante’s Peak.” Print activated his emergency howl and insisted we provide mutual-aid assistance, but a detour re-routed us away from the emergency scene near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Edgewood Place, just northwest of the viaduct. Fortunately, our presence wasn’t needed due to the heroic efforts of the Whitefish, Evergreen, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls fire departments, as well as the Big Mountain Ambulance crew.

After the smoke cleared, we learned additional details about the structure fire, including that it originated in the abandoned brown building at 550 Edgewood Place that used to house O’Piccolo’s Pizza. The wood frame structure is one of several prominent Whitefish properties that owner Lawrence “Larry” O’Shaughnessy has allowed to fall into disrepair. Its last appraisal pegs the total value of the building and property at $1,026,800, according to Montana Cadastral. O’Shaugnessy also owns the dilapidated downtown property at 33 Central Avenue, next door to the Great Northern Bar and Grill. That property was last appraised at a value of $2,204,363, according to tax records. O’Shaughnessy has reportedly rebuffed offers to purchase the parcels, with local lore speculating about a long-standing feud with the city. It’s the sort of Boo Radley-esque legend that enjoys broad consensus in Whitefish, but which the Beacon has never been able to independently confirm, despite repeated attempts to reach O’Shaughnessy.

I should also note that while Print and I were in the vicinity of the fire, the photograph above was taken by local photographer and freelance journalist Justin Franz. A former Beacon reporter, Franz is a frequent contributor to Flathead Living magazine. Thanks Franz!

And now, here are some facts that we have corroborated with local state and city officials. 

According to city leaders, it was shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, when the Whitefish Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Edgewood Place and Wisconsin Avenue (Justin Franz photo above).

“Upon arrival, crews encountered a fully involved fire in an abandoned structure, with conditions too dangerous to allow entry,” according to a Monday press release from the city, which explained that crews battled the blaze in a “defensive mode using aerial master streams,” a high-volume water delivery system that’s mounted to a ladder truck.

The initial response included resources from the Whitefish Fire Department (engine, tender, ambulance, command staff); Evergreen Fire Department (engine); Kalispell Fire Department (ladder truck); Columbia Falls Fire Department (engine); and the Big Mountain Ambulance.

Due to the size and intensity of the fire, crews eventually brought in an additional ladder truck from Columbia Falls, as well as a second engine and ambulance from Whitefish, as well as more command staff.

“Fire suppression efforts were focused on protecting surrounding structures and bringing the fire under control without risking firefighter safety,” according to city officials. “Heavy equipment was brought in by Whitefish Public Works to assist in extinguishing the remaining hot spots and ensure the structure was fully extinguished.”

All responding emergency units cleared the scene by 2 a.m. this morning.

Also on Sunday, fire crews with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Smith Valley Fire Department at 2 p.m. responded to a half-acre fire burning in grass, brush and timber north of Kila, near North Ranch Hill Road (pictured above in a DNRC courtesy photo). Multiple engines were on the scene, while a DNRC helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft worked to suppress the fire from above. Although the fire spread quickly and exhibited grouped tree torching, crews managed to contain the blaze before it exceeded an acre in size. By 9 p.m., fire officials listed the fire as 100% contained.

I’m Tristan Scott, delivering the rest of your Daily Roundup report for Monday, July 14.

What You Can Buy for About $650,000: In Romy Caro’s latest real estate roundup, she features a Kalispell home on a corner lot in Silverbrook Estates; a thoughtfully updated residence in Whitefish; and an ideal mountain getaway in Lakeside. See all the listings here.