Bismarck, ND – At approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 5th, the Central Dakota Communications Center received a report of fire alarms sounding in an apartment building in the 200 block of East Arbor Avenue in Bismarck. The Bismarck Fire Department was dispatched to investigate. The first fire crew arrived on the scene to find nothing showing. Shortly after arrival, crews found a small fire on a third-floor balcony extending into the walls and floor trusses. Additional fire units were brought to the scene. The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire, and occupants had evacuated.
The fire crew established command and extinguished the visible fire. An Additional fire crew arrived on the scene and assisted with establishing a water supply, assisting with evacuation, and checking for fire extension. When the fire was extinguished, an overhaul operation was conducted to find any remaining smoldering materials.
Eight fire department apparatus and 23 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. The Bismarck Police Department assisted with scene control. Metro Area Ambulance was on-site to provide medical support. The deck and siding suffered fire damage, occupants from two apartments were displaced. The cause of the fire was found to be accidental, caused by smoking materials found on the deck.
For more information, contact the Bismarck Fire Department at (701) 355-1400.