Foothills home burns outside Ronan

A house in the foothills of the Mission Mountains outside Ronan was left in ruins last week, after a suspected electrical fire engulfed the structure on the afternoon of March 15.

Ronan Fire Chief Mark Clary said no injuries occurred in the fire, but two young men were forced to flee the basement of the residence near the corner of North Crow Road and Canal Road when flames broke out.

“They left without their shoes on, so they had to get out pretty quick,” he said.

Clary said initial responders arrived to find the home surrounded by smoke and made the decision to call in mutual aid after using up multiple oxygen tanks.

Once firefighters located the source of the flames, Clary said crews were able to contain the blaze quickly.

“It was kind of hiding on us for a while,” he said.

Clary said the cause of the fire is believed to be electrical, however an investigation is underway. He said the house was deemed a complete loss due to structural and water damage.