Bad wiring causes major Missoula house fire – KULR-TV

Fire investigators determined that the damaging fire started due to an electrical problem. Bad wiring in addition to the home's age led to the fire.

Damage is estimated to be $150,000 to the structure and $25,000 to the contents of the house.

Missoula Rural Fire District battled an early morning fireMonday. The call came in just before 5 am of reports of a house on fire on S 7th Street W and Como Drive.

MRFD Battalion Chief Dan Merritt says arriving unitsnoticed very visible smoke and flames on three quarters of the house, a single family home with a wood frame. There was also a live power line down in the front yard.

Two people were home at the time. One of the residents, Cody Stocker, says hegot up to go the bathroomwhen he smelledsmoke. He woke up his uncle and they evacuated. Stocker says once outside, theysaw flames in the add-onof the home. He says hetried to put the flames out himself, but could only do so much and called 911.

Two bedrooms were destroyed, one of them being Stocker's. He says he losthiscloths, his bed, his television and called the house unlivable. His truck was parked in the driveway and the front end of itis also gone.

One engine truck, oneladder truck, and fourwater towers responded to the scene with12 personnel. MRFD received mutual aide from Missoula City Fire, Frenchtown Rural Fire, Florence Rural Fire,East Missoula Rural Fire, Northwestern Energy and the Sheriff's Office.

Stocker says it hasbeen a rough morning and thathe'sstill talking it all in.

Merritt says the house had no visible or working smoke detectors.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Bad wiring causes major Missoula house fire - KULR-TV