At 5:21 a.m., Great Falls Fire Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 308 29th Avenue NE. Officers from the Great Falls Police Department arrived first and confirmed that all occupants had safely evacuated the residence. Truck 2 was the first fire apparatus on the scene, discovering that the attached garage was fully involved in flames, with fire extending into the attic space of the home.
Crews from Truck 2 initiated an exterior fire attack while awaiting additional resources. Upon the arrival of Engine 4, firefighters transitioned to an interior attack through the garage and quickly extinguished the main body of the fire. Engine 1 arrived shortly thereafter and was tasked with extinguishing the attic fire, successfully bringing it under control with minimal extension. Firefighters had the fire under control within 15 minutes of their arrival.
The investigation revealed that the fire originated on the exterior of the residence near the garage. The flames spread into the garage and then into the attic space. The garage sustained extensive fire damage; however, firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading into the living areas of the home, resulting in only minor smoke damage.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental, stemming from the spontaneous combustion of wet grass clippings. Great Falls Fire Rescue reminds residents that while rare, wet grass clippings can generate heat as they decompose. If large amounts of grass are piled together, that heat can build up and potentially lead to spontaneous combustion.
To help prevent such incidents, allow grass clippings to dry before piling, bagging, or disposing of them whenever possible.
By Karen Anderson: June 18, 2026 – Great Falls, Mt
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.
