Car vs. house fire sends Pablo man to burn unit

A Pablo man was transported to a regional, out-of-state burn unit last week after he was injured when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a residence on Paper Trail, off Mud Lake Trail north of Pablo.

Lake County emergency dispatchers received a report at 9:18 a.m. Nov. 10 that someone appeared to have intentionally rammed their vehicle into a residence that then caught fire. 

According to Ronan Fire Chief Chris Adler, Ronan, Polson Rural and Charlo fire departments all responded. The engine crew from Pablo Station 2 arrived first and quickly knocked the fire down, he said. "The residence was damaged by the pickup truck ramming its north end, and had some fire damage." 

The driver of the vehicle was transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, and later transported out of state, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.

Lake County officials had not released the man’s identity or any other details at press-time.