One person dies in car fire outside of Homewood Suites Hotel

One person died in a vehicle fire outside of Homewood Suites Hotel on Monday night, authorities say.

The Kalispell Police and Fire departments responded to the Hutton Ranch Plaza business in North Kalispell about 9:17 p.m., Aug. 18., officials said.

The victim has not yet been identified, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Police Chief Jordan Venezio.

The fire began in a white Chevrolet van and eventually consumed two unoccupied nearby cars, according to Venezio. The cars sat at the outermost edge of the parking lot along Hutton Ranch Road, he said.

Fire crews left at about 11:30 p.m., according to Venezio. But the public should expect an ongoing police presence in the area while investigators are on the scene.

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at