Update – Fire Chief Warns About Outdoor Burning After Friday Afternoon Blaze on Grant Creek Road [AUDIO]

Update: Saturday, March 16, 12:00 p.m.

This message comes from Assistant Missoula Rural Fire Chief Brent Christofferson...

The fire appears to have been caused by a recreational fire in the back yard that spread to the home then up the siding of the house and into the attic. MRFD fire investigators, however, are continuing their investigation.  The majority of the house was saved, but there is significant damage to the 2nd floor and outside of the home.  Preliminary damage to the home is said to be around $80,000.  The Missoula Rural Fire District would like to remind people to continue to monitor your recreational fire or open burning as  weather conditions can change rapidly, fire can spread and cause significant damage in a short period of time.

Missoula Rural Fire, with assistance from Missoula City Fire and the Frenchtown Fire Departments battled a structure fire Friday afternoon on Grant Creek Road.

Assistant Fire Chief for Missoula Rural Fire Brent Christofferson said the fire was called in a little after 4 p.m. when an employe at the nearby Momentum Chemical Plant saw the fire and ran to warn the residents at 3670 Grant Creek Road.

Christofferson said the fire looked to have started in an outdoor recreational fire pit when the wind blew the fire to the structure. Missoula City and Frenchtown Fire both responded and made an interior attack until the fire was knocked down and brought under control.

Christofferson said the home was heavily damaged, though no dollar amount could be estimated. He said fire investigators were still on the scene as of 9 p.m. Friday, while mop-up operations continued.

Thanks to the quick response by neighbors, the occupant of the home escaped, and Christofferson said no one was injured in the fire.

The Missoula County Sheriff's department and Northwestern Energy also assisted at the scene, Christofferson said.

Assistant Chief Brent Christofferson, Missoula Rural Fire