MISSOULA — The day after a devastating fire destroyed a house on the 1400 block of Fourth Street in Missoula, fire crews received the all clear to put the smoldering building out completely.
Firefighters were called to the home by NorthWestern Energy before the fire began on Wednesday after neighbors reported a gas smell. The house then burst into flames.
Missoula Fire Department Chief Gordy Hughes told MTN that firefighters were canvasing the area to determine where the gas was coming from and see if any residents were in their homes.
"Moments prior to the explosion, that firefighter went to that house and if he had been there a few minutes later, the outcome would've been much different," he shared.
After the fire exploded from the underground gas leak, emergency crews rushed into action.
The Missoula Police Department evacuated the homes within a one-block radius of the blaze while the fire department called in off-duty crews and another battalion for extra support.
The Missoula Fire Department reported the situation became more complex when an electric service line from the home burned through and fell in the alley.
NorthWestern Energy was able to shut off the gas leak while firefighters kept the fire to just the single home.
Fire crews stayed all night and all day on Thursday, the day following the explosion, working to fully extinguish the fire.
"We need to maintain firefighter presence by that structure and the reason being is that if you had gas build up again there is a potential that it could find another ignition source and blow up," Hughes explained.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as a result of the fire.
