House fire south of Missoula under investigation, 2 dogs found dead

MISSOULA, Mont. - The Missoula Rural Fire District and Missoula County Sheriff's Office are investigating a house fire on Bear Creek Road on Sunday in which two dogs were found dead. The fire was already out when crews arrived, and the house was unoccupied and under construction.

According to a press release from MRFD, firefighters were dispatched at around 12:56 p.m. and advised by 911 that the reporting party said the fire appeared to be out and that two dogs were found dead.

"The fire arriving command unit arrived on scene and found a two-story single family residence with no fire or smoke showing," MRFD said.

The person who made the report was on scene and said that the building was under construction and not occupied.

MRFD said it was determined during initial investigation that a fire burned in the kitchen area, "but had likely self-extinguished due to oxygen starvation in the sealed room."

The house suffered minor fire damage in the kitchen and heavy smoke damage.

The fire is under investigation.