MISSOULA – Fire investigators are looking for the public’s help to figure out what caused a fire east of Missoula in West Riverside last week that destroyed a two-story home, a garage and a storage shed.
The fire on Zaugg Drive was reported shortly after 3 p.m. Friday, with MRFD firefighters calling for help from as far away as Clinton and Missoula.
The fire appears to have started in a garage area and spread to the house. The building was fully-engulfed in flames when fire engines arrived, with flames visible from Interstate 90 to the south.
Law enforcement shut down traffic to the area while fire departments worked to control the blaze and keep it from spreading in the hot, dry conditions.
Fire officials say that four firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion while battling the blaze.
Missoula Rural Fire District Captain and Fire Investigator Ron Lubke says the people who were in the area when the fire was discovered, and have not contacted investigators, should call Missoula Rural Fire Station 1 at 549-6172 if they have information regarding the fire.
