Week-old goat apparently started fire that destroys Curley Creek home

A fire apparently triggered by a goat knocking over a heater destroyed a home early New Year’s Eve, said Curley Creek Fire Chief Brad Stalcup.

No one was hurt, including 94-year-old Ruby Hardinger, who alerted the rest of the sleeping family to the 5:20 a.m. fire on Old Highway 2 Loop east of Moyie Springs.

“My mother was restless that night,” said Linda Elliston, who also shared the home with her husband, Rusty, and 12-year-old daughter Annie.

Hardinger was downstairs when she spotted the flames.

“We just got our shoes and coats and called 911 as we were running out,” Linda Elliston said.

The family lost everything and had no insurance on the home. Three young kid goats and a cat perished.

“We’re so grateful to be alive and unharmed that we’ve had trouble grieving over the things,” she said.

Although it’s believed one of the week-old goats triggered the fire, Linda Elliston has her doubts.

“We had an electrical heater,” she said. “It had been secured. The heater was on the front porch with some baby animals.”

Mike Nauman, a detective with the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, ruled the fire accidental.

“The owner had a little warming thing for kid goats,” Nauman said. “I don’t know if it was a heat lamp or a

 heater.”

When the first firefighter arrived on scene, the blaze was partially involved.

“By the time we got a truck there (the fire had spread),” Stalcup said.

An emergency dispatcher for Boundary County, Stalcup took the initial call for the fire.

“”I heard screaming and told them to get out of the house,” he said.

The family has been staying at a relative’s apartment and will move to Deep Creek Resort, where owner Conny Bremer donated the use of a cabin. The Ellistons hope to rebuild on the same Old Highway 2 Loop property in the spring.

“People have offered to do a house-raising,” Linda Elliston said. “I just want to thank the community for their generosity. It has just been overwhelming.”

The Ellistons have received clothes, but remain in need of blankets, pillows, a girl’s size 14 winter coat with a good, slippers for Hardinger and sweat pants and a warm coat for Rusty Elliston. Non-perishable food items also are needed.

Donations can be dropped off at Dr. Daniel Moore’s office at 6843 Main St., Bonners Ferry. Linda Elliston works there.

An account has been established for the family. Contributions can be dropped off or mailed to P.O. Box 1479 Panhandle State Bank, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 83805.

Linda Elliston can be reached at 610-5635.