Rollins home lost in fire

A home in a lakeshore neighborhood outside Rollins is in ruins this week after a fire erupted late Sunday night.

Fire crews from across the area were dispatched to the home off Shelter Bay Lane overlooking Flathead Lake around 11:30 p.m. to find the house fully engulfed.

Polson Rural Fire Chief Jack Clapp said the occupant of the residence was awakened by the sound of fire alarms and escaped unharmed.

The ensuring ember shower, Clapp said, threatened neighboring homes and property.

As water supply from the community’s hydrant dwindled, tender trucks were called in from surrounding rural fire stations, as well as the cities of Polson and Ronan.

Thanks to the combined response and cold, rainy weather, Clapp said crews were able to contain the blaze with minimal damage to surrounding structures.

“It would have been worse if the weather had been otherwise,” Clapp said. “It could have burned up the whole neighborhood.”

Clapp said the large, log-cabin style home was a complete loss and estimated damages could top $1million. He said on Monday that the cause of the fire was under investigation but believed to be accidental.