Human-caused fire engulfs vacant house in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A vacant house suffered extreme damage after a fire on Wednesday that authorities say was human-caused.

Great Falls Fire and Rescue (GFFR) responded to the fire on 8th Avenue South around 4:34 p.m. The garage was already fully engulfed in flames.

GFFR extinguished the fire, although the house suffered “extensive damage.”

The previous owners of the house died three years ago, according to GFFR, and the house and garage have been vacant since. No one was inside at the time of the fire, although GFFR said it’s a frequent “squatter” house.

The electricity and gas in the house and garage had been shut off before the fire began. GFFR said the fire was human-caused, but it has not been determined yet whether it was intentional or accidental.