9 Montana volunteer firefighters sent to hospital for ‘toxic smoke inhalation’

GREAT FALLS — Several firefighters were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, according to the Poplar Volunteer Fire Department.

The agency said it was notified of a structure fire on C Street West at 3:36 p.m.

Nine firefighters were taken to hospital for “toxic smoke inhalation.”

One of the nine was taken to the hospital by ambulance and the other eight were examined based on a recommendation from the on-call doctor at Northeast Montana Health Services.

An update later Wednesday said all nine firefighters were “doing well” and seven were expected to be released. Two others would remain under observation.

The Poplar Volunteer Fire Department said, “We would like to thank the Emergency Medical Services personnel and the rest of the NEMHS team, tribal, state and county law enforcement, the Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department for helping us and Donald Boyd extinguish and clean up the scene. for traffic control. »

We do not yet know the presumed cause of the fire, nor the amount of damage.

The scene has been turned over to tribal law enforcement and they will remain on scene until the state fire marshal conducts an investigation.

We will keep you posted if we obtain more information.