Wednesday, October 02, 2024
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1 injured in fire that destroys Plains home

by TRACY SCOTT Clark Fork Valley Press
| July 31, 2024 12:00 AM

Tragedy struck a Plains family last week with the total loss of their home and all its contents.  

Plains Volunteer Fire Department and Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District were dispatched to a fully ingulfed structure on Meany Street on Wednesday afternoon -- the family home of Prentiss and Nawatha Campbell with their son Calvin.  

Calvin was home alone and suffered extensive burns and was life flighted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He has been discharged from the ICU unit. 

Firefighters cautiously approach the fire because of multiple propane tank explosions and suspected ammunition cooking off. Multiple vehicles were lost or damaged including a motorcycle, boat, motorhome and several cars.  

A nearby home suffered siding damage from the extreme heat of the fire. 

The residence was one of the earliest homes built in Plains and was the childhood home of current Clark Fork Valley Hospital physician Dr. Donald Damschen. 

While firefighters were battling the blaze, a male individual was warned by emergency personal to stay further back away from the fire. The individual refused to comply and was placed under arrest.  

Highway Patrol Officer Steve Spurr said the community came together during this emergency by helping set up road blocks. 

“It was amazing watching people of the community come together the way they did,” he commented. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family recover at gofund.me/641a4df6.