On the afternoon of August 27th, Great Falls Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at 1409 8th Ave S, dispatching units at 4:34 pm. Battalion 1 arrived first at 4:39 pm and found the garage in the alley fully engulfed in flames. Engine 1 arrived and initiated an exterior attack, successfully knocking down the fire. Once the flames were extinguished, the fire crews conducted an overhaul to confirm that the fire had not spread to other parts of the structure.
The property, which had been vacant for three years following the owners’ passing, was known to have been used by squatters, but fortunately, there were no occupants inside the house at the time of the fire. The damage inflicted on the property was extensive.
In response to the situation, GFFR called in additional off-duty personnel and sought mutual aid from the Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana Air National Guard fire departments. Investigations revealed that both electricity and gas had been disconnected prior to the incident, leading authorities to determine that the fire was human-caused. However, it remains unclear whether it was accidental or of a criminal nature.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
