Great Falls Fire Rescue said that the cause of the Oct. 5 fire that killed one person was started by smoking near portable oxygen.

The fire started around 2 a.m. in a third-floor apartment of Building C of the Pines Apartment complex at 1701 20th St. S., according to a GFFR update.

GFFR responded with four apparatus and a battalion chief, which is the standard response to a structure fire call in the city limits.

GFFR responds to fatal apartment fire, wind storm overnight

GFFR called a second alarm, calling back two full crews and a second battalion chief to assist.

Montana Air National Guard and Malmstrom Air Force Base fire departments provided mutual aid to cover the rest of the city, according to GFFR.

The fire killed the occupant of the apartment where the fire started. Officials have not yet identified the decedent.

The fire displaced about a dozen other residents of the apartment building and they were supported by the American Red Cross.

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The fire caused smoke and flame damage to the apartment and minor smoke and water damage to the other units in the building, according to GFFR.

The fire rekindled a few hours later on Saturday and GFFR crews remained on scene ensuring the fire was extinguished.

The fire occurred as the city was dealing with Friday night’s wind storm, during which GFFR responded to more than 100 calls after 7 p.m. on Oct. 4.

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GFFR was still triaging calls from the overnight wind event and Chief Jeremy Jones told The Electric that three engine companies were called back on Oct. 5 to assist, in addition to the standard four on duty at all times.

GFFR was scheduled to conduct simulated single family dwelling fire training drills in the 100 block of 5th Avenue Southwest on Saturday, but all crews remained on scene with the apartment fire as of 2:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and callback crews were covering the rest of the city, according to GFFR.

Jones told The Electric that the last of the callback personnel were released Sunday morning and GFFR is back to normal shifts.