GFFR responds to two structure fires this week; numbers on par with 2024
The Electric was asked this week if there was a larger than normal number of house fires and whether there was an arsonist on the loose.
The answer is no.
Fire Marshal Mike McIntosh told The Electric that it seems weird, but in his experience, structure fires often come in spurts.
By the end of August, Great Falls Fire Rescue had responded to 23 structure fires, with four in August, two in July and four in June, according to GFFR data.
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By comparison, GFFR had responded to 22 structure fires by the end of July 2024.
GFFR responded to two structure fires already in September, taking the total for the year to 25.
In 2024, there were 19 structure fires from September through December, for a total of 41 that year.
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Two fires this summer were arson, one in June at a rental property, and one in August at Ace Hardware.
In both cases, a suspect was charged with felony arson in district court.
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GFFR investigates the cause of all structure fires and while some are deemed undetermined, if they suspect arson, the Great Falls Police Department is involved and that is noted in their releases on fires.
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Last winter, a number of structure fires were caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. Others this year have ranged in cause, including electrical or accidental. One fatal fire in July was caused by fireworks.
GFFR continues reminding residents to properly dispose of smoking materials and pay attention to fire safety to prevent loss of life and property.
GFFR responds to morning house fire
Around 4 p.m. Sept. 1, GFFR was dispatched to 2 Prospect Drive, arriving on scene within three minutes to find the attached garage fully engulfed and the fire was extending into the attic space of the house.
The house is at the end of a dead-end road, making access challenging, but Engine 1 was able to position in front of the house to attack the fire through the open garage door, and then into the living room to extinguish the fire in the attic.
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The house was not considered livable and utilities were shut off, according to GFFR.
The home’s occupant was working on his boat motor in the garage when it sparked gasoline vapors, causing the fire.
He sustained burn injuries as he was trying to put the fire out and was taken to Benefis East for evaluation.
There were no injuries to GFFR firefighters and no pets were harmed in the fire.
Around 2 a.m. Sept. 3, GFFR responded to a fire that started in the grass outside of 1218 8th Ave. N.
Engine 3 responded within six minutes, coming from the station at 3325 Central Ave., because Engine 1, which is the closest station, was responding to a medical emergency at the time, according to GFFR.
On scene, firefighters found a small grass fire that had extended to a detached garage and vehicle and had to extend a significant amount of hose down the alley to gain access to the fire, then extinguished it quickly.
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The fire cause was deemed undetermined, but a witness reported the fire had started in the grass outside the garage and smoking materials were suspected but unproved.
No people or pets were displaced as a result of the fire.
