BILLINGS — The Billings Fire Department knocked down a fire that consumed an unoccupied mobile home at 3314 Stone St. in Billings around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, said fire Battalion Chief Jason Lyon.
The home had been unoccupied for quite some time and contained a heavy load of fuels, Lyon said. A neighbor first called in the blaze at 9:15 p.m., he said.
According to a neighbor who lives on the block, people have been at the home over the past few days cleaning out the house and tossing items into a rented dumpster parked in front of the home on Stone Street.
A pile of home-related items could be seen on the front lawn that the neighbor said had been there for at least a day.
When firefighters first arrived on scene, flames were already venting through the outside of the home, Lyon said. Due to a lack of structural integrity, firefighters spent as little time in the home as possible and fought the fire from outside.
Four fire engines, one ladder truck, the battalion chief, Yellowstone County Sheriffs, and American Medical Response all went to the fire.
Lyon said the property owners have been informed and the initial investigation found the property was uninsured.
Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew McLain arrived on scene around 10:30 p.m. to investigate the cause of the fire.
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UPDATE: The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to a Sunday media release from Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew McLain.
The fire caused an estimated $6,000 worth of damage to the property and its contents, McLain wrote. Neither the property or its contents were insured.
