By Ron VandenBoom
A blaze that ripped through an apartment at Oakwood Village Tuesday evening completely destroying one apartment and forcing the evacuation of the entire building.
Damage to the apartment is estimated at $25,000 and according to Havre Fire Chief Craig Ellingson, the apartment is a total loss.
Firefighters received the call shortly after 8 p.m., Ellingson said.
The Havre Police Department was already on the scene and in the process of evacuating the building when firefighters arrived, Ellingson said.
Ellingson said the fire started in apartment D-13 in the basement of one of four apartment complexes that compose the village.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze in the one apartment, but according to Ellingson, smoke damage has also caused extensive damage to the neighboring apartment.
Ellingson said two people occupied the apartment where the fire started and a woman described only as "a single mother" occupied the neighboring apartment.
All the victims were taken to the Havre Townhouse Inn in where Kate Hillson, sales manager at the local motel, said they will be given two days free lodging and a $25 gift certificate to help them with some of the things they might need.
The Havre Chapter of the American Red Cross was also notified and will give assistance.
Ellingson said the fire was knocked down quickly and firefighters returned to station by 11 p.m. Nine firefighters responded to the blaze.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation this morning and Ellingson was not willing to speculate on the possible cause. He said he would visit the scene this morning to begin his preliminary investigation.
