Several dogs died in an early Wednesday morning mobile home fire near Missoula.
Missoula Rural Fire District firefighters were called out to the area of Buena Vista and Highway 10 West for a house on fire with a person still inside shortly after 12:15 a.m.
A Missoula Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived at the scene and reported the mobile home trailer to be 50% engulfed. The deputy met with the occupants and verified they had all made it out safely.
The initial arriving engine from Missoula Rural Fire reported a single-wide mobile home fully involved and the occupants reported that there were still five small dogs inside.
Crews worked quickly to knock down the fire, but four of the five animals were found deceased. The fifth dog was never located but is believed to have also perished in the blaze, according to MRFD Battalion Chief Blaine Cowan.
The mobile home sustained heavy damage and will be a complete loss.
Cowan says the cause of the fire remains under investigation but is believed to be started by a candle in a bedroom.
No injuries have been reported.
