Around 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, the Bismarck Fire Department responded to a report of a Structure fire at 4024 Avondale Drive in Bismarck. While enroute we were told that all occupants were out of the structure. The first arriving crew gave an initial report of fire showing, established command, laid a fire attack hoseline and proceeded to the structure to fight the fire. They confirmed that all occupants were out of the home.
Fire also involved the interior of the structure. Exterior firefighting involved exposing structural components to determine if there were any hidden fires; several hidden fires were extinguished during this operation. Seventeen fire suppression people were dispatched to the scene. Fire department chaplain was called to the scene to assist the family. MDU was called to the scene to secure gas lines. No people were injured from the fire.
Firefighters rescued two dogs and a lizard from the fire. A cat did not survive. The occupants, a family of two along with the pets, were displaced as a result of the fire. Bismarck PD, Metro Area Ambulance & the Red Cross assisted with the incident. The fire appears to have started in the garbage container directly adjacent to the structure and, in turn, started the home and storage shed on fire. Cause of the fire is undetermined.