Fire leaves Post Falls families homeless

A dozen people, including four children, were forced from their homes early Tuesday morning when a fire swept through their Post Falls apartment building.

No one was injured in the 2:30 a.m. blaze, but none of the families living in the four-plex dwelling at 407 E. Second Ave. was insured, said Jim Lyon, public information officer for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

“A couple of them have absolutely nothing left,” Lyon said.

More than 30 fire personnel were called to the scene, including crews from Kootenai County, Hauser, Northern Lakes and Coeur d’Alene departments.

Residents of one of the apartments awoke to the smell of smoke and alerted neighbors, Lyon said. Flames were visible on a balcony and deck of the apartment as residents evacuated. The two apartments on the upper level were a total loss; the lower apartments were damaged by water and fire.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation late Tuesday, Lyon said.

Emergency housing in local hotels was provided for three of the families; a fourth sought shelter with relatives, officials said.

Additional aid is being provided by the Coeur d’Alene branch of the American Red Cross, which is reopening a local office this month. Formal announcement of the agency’s newly hired director, Kerren Vollmer, is expected today, said Polly Gorley, a Red Cross spokeswoman.

Vollmer is a former volunteer coordinator for the Medical Reserve Corps in North Idaho.

Funds have been set up at several local banks to assist victims of Tuesday’s fire. Donations can be made at any local branch of Bank of America for Chris Biederman and Brook Long, and for Bobby Hunter and Shay Covey, who have a 2-year-old child. Donations can be made at Mountain West Bank for Christine Stoveall and her adult son. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank location for Cheryl and Dan Bichler and their three children, ages 14, 12 and 4.

No additional information was available about the families.