At approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 27, the Central Dakota Communications Center received a report of smoke inside a home on the 500 block of Huron Drive. The Bismarck Fire Department was dispatched to investigate. The first arriving fire crew reported a single family residence nothing showing from the exterior and the occupants evacuated. The fire crew found light smoke in the house but no fire. An investigation found an overheated blower motor in the home’s HVAC unit. Fire crews ventilated the house and turned over the scene to the homeowner.
Four fire department apparatus and 12 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Bismarck Police Department assisted with scene control. Metro Area Ambulance was on scene to provide medical support.
The Bismarck Fire Department would like to remind residents that heating and cooling systems are major home components, with many moving parts that often operate continuously. Regular inspection and maintenance is likely to identify problems when they are small and easily corrected.
At approximately 3:17 PM on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the Central Dakota Communications Center received a report of a fire at an apartment building on the 1900 block of East Capital Avenue. The Bismarck Fire Department was dispatched to investigate. The first arriving fire crew established command and conducted a scene size-up. The fire crew reported a three story apartment building with smoke showing from a second floor balcony. The fire crew accessed the balcony where they found some cardboard material on fire. The fire was extinguished with a handheld water extinguisher and an overhaul operation was conducted to confirm that the fire was out. When the overhaul operation was complete the scene was handed over to the apartment management.
Five fire department apparatus and 12 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Bismarck Police Department assisted with scene control. Metro Area Ambulance was on scene to provide medical support. The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire. There were no injuries to the building occupants or to firefighters. Damage caused by the fire was limited to the balcony area. Multiple cigarette butts were found on the wood deck of the balcony in the area of origin. The cause of this fire has been classified as accidental.
The Bismarck Fire Department would like to remind residents to make fire safety a priority when disposing of smoking materials. For fire safety tips for smokers & their families, and for information on smoke alarms visit: http://www.bismarcknd.gov/487/Prevention-and-Public-Education