FULL STORY: How HuHot Ended Up Engulfed in Flames

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 19, 2025, a fast-moving fire spread from a shed located on the property to HuHot’s main structure. The restaurant was engulfed in flames and burned completely to the ground. According to court documents, preliminary damage assessments available to the Missoula County Attorney’s Office place the financial loss between $2 and $2.5 million.  

On March 21, 2025, the undersigned prosecutor responded to the location with the assigned fire investigator. The undersigned prosecutor observed obvious indicia that since the closure of the business, unhoused persons have taken shelter on the premises. Prior to the fire, two sheds were located on the north side of the building. 

The second shed is in close proximity to where the fire started. The second shed also showed signs of forced entry and habitation that included a metal tea kettle. A Coleman tent was observed within feet of the burned structure. The fire investigator pointed out a refuse area where people also appear to shelter. 

Detective Discovers a Female Suspect 

In the early morning hours of March 19, 2025, a concerned citizen dialed 911 at 5:35 a.m. to report that HuHot was on fire. A detective obtained surveillance photographs from adjacent businesses. The detective isolated still images from the previous evening of a female suspect walking in the vicinity of the shed where the fire originated. The detective further isolated a photograph of what appeared to be the same woman walking away from the sheds at 5:29 a.m., after the fire started.  

On March 20, 2025, an off-duty officer spotted a person matching the female suspect’s description panhandling at the intersection of Reserve and Brooks Streets. The detective and several additional officers contacted 34-year-old Amy Birk. Detectives transported the Birk to the Missoula Police Department for questioning.  

Birk waived her Miranda rights and agreed to speak with the officers. Birk stated that she has been staying at the Poverello Center. When detectives raised the subject of the HuHot, she stated that she knew what had happened. 

READ MORE: Missoula’s Old HuHot Building ‘Total Loss’

Birk Explains What Happened 

Birk acknowledged that she went into the shed and fell asleep. She stated that when she woke up, the whole shed was on fire. She advised that she was nearly burned alive. Birk stated that she did not have a phone, so she went to the nearest hotel to call 911 but realized that firetrucks were already on the way.  

Birk admitted that she cooked dinner inside the shed. She built a fire with sheets of paper. She “assumed” that she used a lighter to start the fire. She built the fire on a metal sheet located in the middle of the small shed. She believed that the fire was out when she fell asleep.  

She surmised that an ember might have sparked a tarp she was laying on but was unsure how the fire actually started. Birk let the fire burn for up to a half an hour while she warmed her food. Birk claimed that before going to sleep, she poured water on the fire and tried to stomp it out with her feet.  She added, “I’m sorry if I caused a big problem.” 

Birk was placed under arrest and is currently being charged with felony negligent arson. Her bond was set at $10,000. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.