Woman, cats escape blaze

HAYDEN — Angel Tesch woke up to smoke filling her house Monday just after noon.

“I immediately grabbed my phone and called 911 and started grabbing cats,” she said as she stood outside the home at Reed and Wyoming. “There is no way in hell I would ever leave them.”

Tesch and several cats escaped from the fire believed to have started in the garage, which was badly damaged with the contents inside mostly destroyed. Firefighters with Northern Lakes Fire Protection District and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department carried a number of burned and charred items onto the driveway.

The main section of the home suffered smoke damage but was saved from flames.

NLFPD Fire Chief Pat Riley said the cause and origin of the blaze were under investigation.

“Nobody was hurt and we’re doing our best to keep it that way,” he said.

Tesch, who lived there with two other young women, fled wearing a shirt, jeans and no shoes on a 40-degree day. A friend gave her a jacket. Firefighters retrieved shoes for her from the home. A neighbor told Tesch they could come to his home if they needed anything.

“We’re right here,” he said.

“Thank you,” Tesch said. “Seriously, thank you.”

The man, who declined to give his name, said he’s lived there 45 years. He said they just wanted to do what they could, as they know what it's like to face tough times.

“We’ve needed help from time to time,” he said.

Tesch said they've lived there about seven years. She leaned against a vehicle as she recovered.

“I'm going to sit here for a minute,” she said. “I’m a little lightheaded.”

Tesch, crying and coughing, said they didn’t have insurance. She has two jobs and has been working late hours.

“I’m sorry, I still need to get a hold of work,” she said.

She believed the blaze started in the furnace in the garage. She said the smoke was coming from the vents “like it was coming from the furnace."

Sam Goodman, who lives in the home, arrived about 30 minutes after it started. She held one of the cats that was singed and bundled up in a towel.

“He’s a grumpy cat,” Goodman said.

She was glad all six cats seemed to be accounted for. She wasn’t sure where they would be staying or what they would do next.

“We’ll see,” she said. “It depends on how that is inside.”