City of Missoula Fire Department

625 E. Pine Street | Missoula, MT 59802

Office: 406.552.6210 | Fax: 406.552.6184

To: All Media Outlets

From: Dave Wolter, Battalion Chief D-Shift

Re: Fire Structure Response, Aerial Fire Depot

Date: 1/3/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INCIDENT: Aerial Fire Depot Structure Fire

Time of call: 20:59

Number of units: 10
Number of Firefighters: 21
Fatalities/Injuries: 0
Property Damage: $30,000
Property Saved: $5,000,000

Missoula, MT– At approximately 8:59 p.m. on January 3, 2024, the Missoula Fire Department (MFD),
Missoula Rural Fire District (MRFD), and Missoula Airport police/fire were dispatched to a fire alarm at
the Aerial Fire Depot. Airport police and fire responded and confirmed a working fire on the second
floor of the Aerial Fire Depot. The initial response was quickly upgraded to a structure response and
then to a second alarm. The upgraded response prompted the dispatching of all five Missoula Fire
Department stations, an ambulance from Missoula Emergency Services, and additional resources from
the Missoula Airport.
ACTIONS TAKEN:

A quick exterior knockdown of the fire by Airport firefighters along with an aggressive interior attack
from MFD and MRFD crews allowed the fire to be contained in twenty minutes. Fire damage was
limited to a couple of rooms on the second floor while the first floor had minor smoke and water
damage.

The Missoula Fire Department called in two additional crews and an additional Battalion chief to staff
the city while crews were working on the fire. No injuries were reported, and the building was
unoccupied at the time of the fire. Quick detection and mutual aid response drastically reduced the
potential loss with this fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Inquiries or information can be directed to the
Missoula Fire Department by calling (406) 552-6210.

MEDIA CONTACT(S):
Fire Chief, Gordy Hughes
Assistant Chief, Brad Davis
Assistant Chief, Philip Keating
Fire Investigators, Jamie Porter/Jason Hedahl
(406) 552-6210
firebureau@ci.missoula.mt.us