GFFR responds to house fire, occupant and pets exit safely
Great Falls Fire Rescue responded to a house fire at 517 6th Ave. S. around 9 p.m. March 4.
The battalion chief was the first to arrive on scene and found smoke venting from the gable ends of the house and fire starting to vent from the roof, according to GFFR.
The battalion chief met with the occupant who said he’d made it out of the house with his dog and cat, and that there were no other occupants of the house.
Working structure fires require all four engine companies to respond so GFFR struck a second alarm, calling back off duty personnel.
The Malmstrom and Montana Air National Guard fire departments backfilled the city under their mutual aid agreements until the off-duty GFFR firefighters arrive to backfill the city while GFFR crews handle the structure fire.
While the military fire departments were backfilling the city on March 4, the MANG firefighters were dispatched to a medical call within the city.
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Engine 4 was the first GFFR apparatus to arrive on scene and its crew made entry into the house where they found an active fire in the attic.
Firefighters extinguished the fire and ensured it didn’t spread to other areas of the house, which is considered unlivable at this time, according to GFFR.
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The home’s occupant was provided with assistance information from the American Red Cross.
The cause of the fire was the failure of a bathroom ceiling heat lamp and fan, according to GFFR.
The March 4 fire brings the total of house fires so far this year to six.
