By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Two separate structure fires in the Havre area this weekend each resulted in a fatality.
The first was reported shortly after 11 PM on Saturday night at the 700 block of 38th Avenue West. Havre Fire Chief Mel Paulson says a structure fire in a detached garage caused one death. The garage was rendered a total loss. The male was the only person believed to have been in the building. The fire was in control within 15 minutes, but took an hour to suppress.
The Fire Department brought 12 personnel to the scene along with one pumper, one ambulance, one tanker and one command vehicle.
Hill County Undersheriff Stan Martin says the person that died was an elderly male, but declined to release any other information.
The State Fire Marshal will be assisting the Hill County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.
The second fire, which was reported at 1:49 AM on Sunday morning, occurred in a single family dwelling at the 10 block of Beaver Creek Boulevard. Paulson says a discarded cigarette caught fire and burned an elderly female to death. There were no other people in the residence and there was very little damage to the structure itself.
The Havre Fire Department was notified of the fire by a smoke alarm, and had to force their way into the residence. By the time they arrived at the scene, the fire was already out.
The Havre Fire Department brought a fire truck, an ambulance and four personnel to the scene. The County Coroner and Havre Police Department were also on the scene.
The incident is no longer under investigation.
