Missoula Rural Fire has provided an update to the apartment fire that occurred late Wednesday.

Acting Battalion Chief Ron Lubke detailed what firefighters found when they arrived at the 12 unit apartment building on Farm Lane.

"The call came in just before six o'clock on Wednesday evening for a reported structure fire in an apartment building in Lolo," Lubke said. "The first engine arrived on scene and had fire showing from the exterior of one apartment and the fire ha already penetrated into the attic. Once it got into the attic, it spread to several other apartments. There were 12 apartments total in the building. Three sustained heavy fire damage and five others sustained heavy smoke and water damage."

Lubke said the initial reports that a barbecue may have been the cause of the fire have proven to be incorrect.

"The fire is still under investigation," he said. "The investigators were down there most of the day today, and they have determined that the barbecue was actually not the cause, but the actual cause is still being investigated at this time."

Lubke said, whatever the cause, the fire did a great deal of damage to the 12-unit complex.

"We are estimating about $350,000 damage caused by the fire right now, and probably about another $300,000 in property that was saved," he said.

Lubke said currently none of the twelve apartments are able to be occupied. All occupants are being assisted by friends and family members as well as the American Red Cross

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