Sagle house fire claims one life, results in critical injury for another

By Reader Staff

One individual lost their life and another was critically injured after a Feb. 15 house fire on Gold Mountain Drive in Sagle. According to a Feb. 17 news release, Selkirk Fire, Sandpoint Fire, Northside Fire, Timberlake Fire and Bonner County EMS responded to the incident, which was reported around 10:29 a.m. 

While en route, Bonner County dispatch informed crews that one person may be inside the single-family residence, which was reported to have “heavy fire coming from the front of the structure,” according to Selkirk Fire.

Firefighters, the first of whom arrived in under 11 minutes, initiated an offensive fire attack and went inside the home to search for victims. After encountering heavy fire and heat, first-responders found one victim located inside a bedroom, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.  

A second victim was also located at the scene, identified as a neighbor who had attempted to rescue the individual inside the building. She suffered critical injuries from the fire, was treated by BCEMS and transported from the scene by LifeFlight.  

Selkirk Fire reported that crews continued to fight the flames while additional units arrived to provide personnel and water supply. Off-duty and volunteer personnel returned to the station and brought more apparatus to assist.  

In coordination with the Idaho State Fire Marshal, as of Feb. 17, the origin of the fire was determined to be a wood stove in the living room of the home.

“Today’s fire reflects a worst-case scenario for our community,” Selkirk Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong stated. “We grieve with the friends and family of the victim.”  

Selkirk Fire stated: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind homeowners to have their wood stoves serviced and inspected each year, have repairs made by a reputable and licensed contractor and always maintain clearance around the woodstove free of flammable materials when in use.”