UPDATE: 8:36 a.m. - January 18, 2024
An explosion at a home in Missoula on Wednesday afternoon caused a major house fire and a city block to be shut down.
The Missoula Fire Department was called to a house in the 1400 of South Fourth Street West at around 1 p.m. after a large boom was heard.
The people in the home were able to get out safely before the home quickly became engulfed in flames.
NorthWestern Energy was called to the scene to shut off gas in the area and the fire department called in four off-duty crews to assist. The Missoula Rural Fire District was also called in for support.
Reporter Emily Brown was at the scene and spoke with a neighbor who was on alert before the fire started.
"We had smelled some gas coming in three hours before it happened. The fire department came out, checked our house and said you're good to go,” Joe Timms said. “Went back to business as usual and then heard an extremely loud explosion after that. Grabbed my infant, got the dogs out then ran out the front door and saw the carnage."
Crews were still on the scene through most of the afternoon. We will have additional information as it becomes available.
(second report: 2:17 p.m. - January 17, 2024)
Emergency crews remain on the scene of a Wednesday afternoon structure fire in Missoula.
The Missoula Fire Department (MFD) responded to the 1400 block of South Fourth Street West shortly before 1 p.m. for a report of an explosion and fire.
MFD reports in a social media post that the home is engulfed in flames. Surrounding structures were evacuated.
The people inside the home were safely evacuated.
"This is a full structure response requiring all on-duty crews. Two off duty crews and an additional Battalion Chief were called in to cover emergency response within the city," the post states.
The Missoula Rural Fire District is also providing response support to the city.
"We had smelled some gas coming in three hours before it happened. The fire department came out, checked our house and said you're good to go. Went back to business as usual and then heard an extremely loud explosion after that. Grabbed my infant, got the dogs out then ran out the front door and saw the carnage," neighbor Joe Timms told MTN News.
Traffic is heavily delayed on Russell Street in the area and drivers are not being allowed to turn onto South Fourth Street West from Russell Street.
- Reporting by Mark Thorsell and Emily Brown
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article was worded incorrectly. Surrounding structures were evacuated, NOT on fire.
(first report: 1:05 p.m. - January 17, 2024
A large plume of smoke can be seen over Missoula on Wednesday afternoon following a reported explosion and fire.
Missoula firefighters were called to reports of a fire that may have been sparked by an explosion in the 1400 block of South Fourth Street West shortly before 1 p.m.
Firefighters tell our reporter on the scene that there is an underground gas leak in the area.
The fire is burning near Russell Street and people should avoid the area.
Gregory Matarazzo Jr. sent us the below video of the smoke plume as seen from the Slant Streets area.
- Deveoping story. Check back for updates.
