Structure Fire Strikes On Mother’s Day
A structure fire claimed a building owned by Andy Ullmer at 20 Broadway Ave. in Culbertson Sunday. Ullmer told the Community News that the building was used for storage and worker apartments.
Culbertson Fire Department Chief Mike Olson said that smoke was observed at the address by a local resident, who called dispatch at 3:49 p.m.
No neighboring structures were affected and no major injuries were reported, though one community member was treated for smoke inhalation.
Olson said the fire was likely started outside the building. “It looks like it started outside on the east side of the building and climbed up from the inside” Olson said. No cause has been identified.
The Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department was first on the scene, with mutual aid provided by departments from Bainville and Froid. Ambulance crews from Culbertson and Bainville also responded, as did the Montana Highway Patrol and the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.
A number of community members assisted with the effort. TJ Boyer, who is graduating from Westby High School on May 16, volunteered to move hoses. He was in the area helping his mother, Christine, move to a new apartment when they heard the sirens.
Traffic was blocked off on Highway 16 and multiple fire engines had their hoses trained on the damaged structure for most of the afternoon and early evening. Area crews were on the scene until 11:30 p.m. watching for rekindles and other issues. “We’re all exhausted today,” Olson said on Monday.
