Local Kalispell residents reported the following information to Montana1stNews.
“Around 4:30 pm on 3/29/25, a call went out for the Kalispell Fire Department to respond to the Flathead Warming Center “that a backpack had been set on fire.” A few minutes later a dispatcher called off the Fire Department, saying a police officer extinguished the fire and that they had detained the woman.”
“You can see something resembling a purse on the sidewalk not far from where the officer is standing with a fire extinguisher. He was standing next to a utility box in the Warming Center parking lot. KPD was parked in front of the Warming Center with lights going. After the smoke cleared another KPD officer pulled up in a second squad vehicle, with lights going, behind the first vehicle in front of the Flathead Warming Center.”
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Now some questions remain.
- Who is this woman? Is she a guest of the Flathead Warming Center? And if she is why is she loitering on the Flathead Warming Center property (or very nearby) when they (via their website) “Do not let allow guests to linger on property before 5:30 pm.” (who is overseeing these people)?
- Is this woman some random transient who just decided to start a fire on the FWC property?
- What’s in the “backpack” that would make her want to burn it?
And finally, why is the public being forced to pay for services (police etc. and yes we were/are forced to pay for more Law Enforcement via a vote that took place recently and remember as far as we know most of the FWC’s Board of Directors don’t live within city limits so it’s us paying for these services not them) for destruction on or near the Warming Center property and the nearby neighborhood? The neighbors quite frankly are appalled.
If you are tired of seeing crime in or around the Warming Center and on their property, call them and let them know or contact them via email because they want to hear from you. Let your complaints be known. Supposedly, they are required to get back to the public with concerns and questions and promptly. Ask them this, “Why do you not have security walking your premises when there is such havoc associated with your facility?”
Furthermore, when we interviewed a neighbor who lives in close proximity to the Center she shared, “The cops were there 3 times the other day.” This is beyond ridiculous. And it disrupts the neighborhood horribly.
Click here to contact the Flathead Warming Center to submit a complaint.
From their website,
“We’re doing our best to stay in close communication with the community. Help us stay informed by keeping us in the loop! If an issue pops up, please let us know. And if a specific incident occurs, please gather and share details (who, when, where) so we can determine if one of our guests was involved and how we might hold them accountable.”
Hold the Center accountable. This is unacceptable on all levels.
