At approximately 10:10 PM on Thursday, February 22, 2018, a fire crew from the Bismarck Fire Department was returning to quarters after responding to a medical call when they identified smoke and fire on the roof of the Kelly Inn located at 1800 North 12th Street. The fire crew reported the fire to the Central Dakota Communications Center and went to investigate.
The Central Dakota Communications Center dispatched additional fire units to the scene. The first arriving fire crew established command and entered the hotel to evacuate the occupants. Additional fire crews arrived on the scene. Fire crews deployed fire attack hoselines and ladders to access the roof from two sides, then established a water supply. When fire crews accessed the roof, they found a rooftop heating unit on fire and fire spread to surrounding roof materials. Once the fire was extinguished an overhaul operation was conducted where fire crews removed burned and smoldering materials. When the overhaul operation was complete a fire watch was established at the hotel to watch for signs of rekindle.
Seven fire department apparatus and 18 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Bismarck Police Department assisted with scene control. Metro Area Ambulance was on scene to provide medical support. Montana Dakota Utilities assisted with securing utilities. The building was occupied at the time of the fire and the displaced occupants were relocated to area hotels. No injuries were reported. There was heavy fire and heat damage to the rooftop heating unit and the surrounding roof surface. The fire was determined to have started in the rooftop heating unit and the cause of the fire has been classified as accidental.