Fireworks cause fire at Great Falls office building

Great Falls firefighters responded to 51 fire calls in a 24-hour period beginning on the Fourth of July and ending at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, including a fire that destroyed a roof at a West Side office building.

Most of the fire calls were prompted by the misuse of fireworks, said Battalion Chief Bob Shupe, adding that the dry, windy conditions on the Fourth of July holiday served up a recipe for disaster.

It's only a matter of time, Shupe added, before the misuse of fireworks in the city causes a major problem, such as the loss of a home. He noted a man in Belt lost his home to fireworks last year.

"At some point that situation is going to play out in our community," Shupe said.

Firefighters were called to 501 Bay Drive at 11:38 p.m. Saturday to a fire at an office building housing the Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative and the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association (MECA).

As fire trucks were crossing the Central Avenue West bridge they could see that the roof was already fully engulfed.

A dumpster near the building was full of fireworks, Shupe said.

Firefighters stopped the fire from getting into the building, but the cedar shake roof was a total loss.

"It's usually not the people who are lighting the fireworks off that suffer the consequences," Shupe said.

Ryan Hall, communications director for MECA, said the majority of the damage was to the roof with interior damage mostly smoke and water damage confined to the MECA side of the building in the main hallway, CEO's office and internet room. There was no damaged to the offices on the Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative side of the building, he said. The quick response by firefighters limited the damage, Hall said. MECA does have insurance, and has contacted a restoration company.

Firefighters also were called to numerous grass fires.

The call load was so high that two additional engine companies and another battalion chief had to be called in. And additional firefighters were already on duty to help with the anticipated surge in fire calls.

Two additional structure calls came in Saturday, including a fire at a child care facility at 1225 9th Ave. S. that was unoccupied at the time. The 6:40 p.m. fire caused $10,000 to $15,000 in damage.

After the wind picked up Saturday evening residents continued to light fireworks, which Shupe called "plain old negligent."

The fire marshal drove around the city until 3 p.m. advising people that fireworks are banned after midnight according to city ordinance.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Karl Puckett at 406-791-1471. Twitter: GFTrib_KPuckett.