Hauser home burns
<p>Firefighters from area agencies work to extinguish a house fire Friday on Hauser Lake Road. Hauser Fire District, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, Northern Lakes Fire District and Newman Lake Fire and Rescue aided in the effort.</p>
<p>A Northern Lakes Fire District firefighter breaks open a window, allowing ventilation while fighting a house fire in Hauser Lake.</p>
HAUSER - Fire gutted a home in the Hauser area Friday afternoon.
The fire at 9466 N. Hauser Lake Road just north of Highway 53 was reported around 2 p.m. There were no injuries.
"The house is pretty much a total loss," said Chief Larry Simms of the Hauser Lake Fire District. "The fire was real stubborn due to the construction of the home and cold weather.
"My guess is that there's $100,000 worth of damage by the time you count the structure."
Simms said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
"We have no idea what caused it and there was such extensive damage that it's going to be tough to tell," said Simms, adding that nothing pointed to it being suspicious.
"We think the fire started on the main floor or in the basement, but we're not sure because the fire was in the wall. The fire got into the walls in the attic and it was hard to get to."
Simms said the senior couple who owns the older, two-story home has family in the area. He said he was told that the home is insured.
Simms said the woman called 911 and evacuated.
"She went upstairs and it got really smoky really quick, so she left the home, which was the right thing to do," he said.
Neighbors assisted by moving vehicles away from the home to prevent further damage. Some belongings were spared and stored in a nearby shop.
Simms didn't immediately know the names of the homeowners.
When firefighters arrived, the home was filled with smoke.
"By the time crews got inside, the damage was pretty extensive in the construction," he said.
Firefighters were at the home until after 7 p.m.
Northern Lakes, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Newman Lake assisted Hauser Fire.