Great Falls, Mont. – Great Falls Fire Rescue crews responded to approximately 100 calls between January 12th – 15th during the recent Arctic cold snap affecting Great Falls. Of those 100 calls for service, GFFR responded to 3 working structure fires, 1 car fire, 7 natural gas calls in structures, and 5 calls for breaks to fire sprinkler systems.
On January 13th, GFFR responded to 2 working structure fires that occurred 3 hours apart. The first fire occurred at 6:40 am at 1603 1st Ave N in a house that is split into 3 apartments. The cause of the fire, which was found in the attic, was determined to be electrical in nature. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, however, one apartment was deemed unlivable, and the American Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants of the apartment.
The second fire occurred at 9:02 am at 1018 8th Ave S. This residence is another multi-family residence. No occupants of the residence were injured, and no occupants were displaced. The fire was found to have started in the basement and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
On the morning of January 15th at 7:32 am, GFFR responded to a fire at 1127 7th Ave N. GFFR arrived on the scene to find a fire in the wall and floor of the kitchen. The cause of this fire was determined to be electrical in nature. The occupants of the home were not injured, and not displaced as the house is still livable.
Despite battling the bitter cold and dealing with frozen fire hoses, frozen tools, and frozen fire engines, the crews of Great Falls Fire Rescue have persevered in their mission to provide fire and life safety protection to the citizens of Great Falls. Their dedication and adaptability in the face of adversity serve as an inspiration to us all.
