A house fire at the Riesland residence in extreme southeastern Powder River County claimed the lives of three adults on Saturday morning, according to local fire and law enforcement officials.
Reports indicated that the three female adults were found in the home following the fire. Four dogs also perished in the blaze.
The fire was reported just after 7 AM on Saturday, January 18th, with the first Broadus firefighter, Kelly Ostendorf of Boyes, arriving within approximately 20 minutes, and other fire engines and law enforcement soon following. Meanwhile, family and neighbors also gathered at the scene.
The fire completely consumed the cinder block structure of the home, with the metal roof collapsing into the structure making the flames more difficult to extinguish. Cold temperatures reportedly hampered fire- fighting efforts, as the mercury hovered in the single digits with windy conditions throughout the day.
Broadus Fire Chief Raymond Ragsdale informed us that around 9,500 gallons of water were sprayed on the fire, and an excavator was brought in Sunday to clear the debris.
State fire inspectors from Billings were also on hand to inspect the scene and looking for a cause to the fire. On Monday the cause of the fire was unknown and still under investigation.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office in Billings will work to determine a cause of death of the fire victims.
Broadus VFD firefighters responding to the fire included Clint Pedersen, Chase Talcott, Raymond Ragsdale, DJ Wilson, Myles Gardner, Clint Hahn, Kelly Ostendorf, Seth Bayles, and Wes Hinman.
Broadus Sheriff’s Department officials present during the initial fire included Sheriff Devin Boman and Deputy Cory Seamann, while Sheriff Neil Kittelmann and a deputy from Carter County also responded to the incident.
The officials involved wished to thank the Dinstel family for their help in delivering hot chili, sandwiches, and coffee while they worked to put out the fire.
On Monday we spoke to Broadus Fire Department members who emphasized this is the time of year to check households to help prevent fire (while emphasizing that these items did not necessarily directly relate to the fire in question).
Some examples include: checking dryer vents for blockages, using high quality grounded extension cords, keeping chimneys clean and free of soot, checking to make sure smoke detectors have good batteries, and “close before you dose”, that is, closing bedroom doors before falling asleep leads to slower fire spread, adding precious time in an emergency situation.
If anyone has fire safety questions, please contact a Broadus VFD member.
Reader Comments(0)