Smoke alarm saves Polson couple displaced by fire

An early morning fire Saturday in Polson left no major injuries and is still under investigation.

Polson City Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Terry Gembala confirmed the house, located on the 500 block of 10th Ave. West, is a total loss.

He credits a working smoke alarm to waking the couple who lived in the house, allowing them to safely exit through a back door.

The cause of the blaze that was reported at 2:26 a.m. is “undetermined at this time,” Gembala said.

Minor injuries to the male occupant included singed hair and “a slight first degree burn” after he got his wife out of the house.

Gembala said that the man went back into the house to try to extinguish the fire.

Along with the couple’s personal belongings that were lost were most of the family’s dogs, Gembala said.

Firefighters from Polson Rural Volunteer Fire Department and Finley Point Volunteer Fire Department assisted, while Mission Valley Power was called to disconnect power.

Crews cleared the scene at about 7:30 a.m., Gembala said, because extra time was spent tearing the ceiling of the house down.

Currently, a fundraiser set up by a family friend is in place and can be viewed at

https://www.generosity.com/fundraisers/2264802.