Widow's house a total loss after fire

BONNERS FERRY — Sheron Lockman lost her husband of 50 years on July 19. Tragedy struck again on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 11, when her house on Roosevelt Road went up in flames.

North Bench Fire was dispatched to the structure fire at 6:20 a.m. with assistance from South Boundary Fire and Paradise Valley Fire. Boundary Ambulance and Boundary County Chaplian Corp Angel 1 also responded to the scene. Upon arrival, the house was already fully involved.

Lockman and another occupant were transported from the scene by Boundary Ambulance.

“The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, and the structure was a total loss,” North Bench Fire reported on their Facebook page.

According to the Facebook report, Mike Kelly provided an excavator to aid in removing logs that were considered hazardous and impeding the work to extinguish the fire and investigate its cause.

Crews remained on the scene to provide fire watch until investigators arrived the next morning.

Lockman’s grandson, Jared Sutterlund, received a huge outpouring from the community, of people wanting to help financially or with clothing. He said that Lockman lost everything in the fire.

“It is so tragic,” said Sutterlund, speaking about his grandmother first losing her husband, then losing her house with all her belongings.

Sutterlund has set up a place for people wishing to donate. The fund is called Lockman Fire Fund and it is set up at Mountain West Bank. People may also contact him directly: Jared Sutterlund, 208-290-3133