On 1/19/25 at approximately 2:35 in early morning hours, GFFR was dispatched to a working structure fire at 225 19th Ave NW. T2 arrived first to find a residential house with heavy fire involvement as well as a camper in the front driveway. Both neighboring houses on both sides were being threatened. As additional crews arrived they protected the exposures and started to attack the fire. All occupants were able to exit the structure.
Due to the amount of fire, a second alarm callback was initiated as well as MANG and Malmstrom to backfill stations. A Great Falls Transit Bus was called in to provide a warm rehab area for the firefighters due to the cold temperatures. Crews were able to get control of the fire shortly after 30 minutes on scene but continued to extinguish hot spots for an additional hour and a half.
The house and camper were a total loss. All 10 occupants were able to exit, 5 adults and 5 children. 2 dogs were also in the structure, one of them got out and the other died in the house. One child was transported with smoke inhalation. Red Cross was notified and in contact with the family. The house has been determined as a total loss and the fire investigation is still active.
