Fire kills 28 cats, one bird

The Daily Inter Lake

Twenty-nine animals died in a fire late Tuesday at a mobile home off Lower Valley Road.

The final death toll was 28 cats and a bird. A kitten pulled out of the burning structure died later Tuesday night, South Kalispell Fire Captain Chris Johnston said.

Firefighters responded to a mobile home park in the 600 block of Lower Valley Road about 10:45 p.m. and found one of the homes already burning, firefighters said.

Investigators, who do not suspect arson, believe the fire started near the electric range oven - possibly after it had been turned on by one of the cats.

The trailer reportedly was not occupied by people when the fire occurred, but its owner had been planning to move back into it in the near future.

Some of the cats inside belonged to the trailer's owner, but others roamed the neighborhood, Johnston said.

About 55 firefighters from the South Kalispell, Evergreen, West Valley, Smith Valley and Somers fire departments responded to the scene. An ambulance from the Kalispell Fire Department was dispatched in case of injuries.