Department responds to two fires

The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department responded to two truck fires last week.

On Saturday morning, the department sent a total of four trucks to a semi truck fire on Interstate 90.

Whitehall Fire Chief Jeremy Ward, the fire started on the rear trailer of the semi that was carrying trim boards.

Ward reported that eastbound traffic from the Interstate was detoured through Whitehall. The Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, United States Forest Service, Willow Creek Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department, and Jefferson Valley EMS also responded to the incident.

Ward added the department was on the scene for seven and a half hours.

Earlier in the week, the department reported to a pickup truck fire on Whitetail Road in Whitehall that resulted in total loss of the vehicle.

The department was on scene Tuesday afternoon with two trucks and four firefighters. Ward said the driver of the truck first noticed smoke and when he opened the hood the fire really took off. The driver of the truck was able to unhook a horse trailer that the truck was pulling and no injuries were reported.

Ward said the cause of the fire is undetermined, but it started somewhere in the front of the vehicle.

Jefferson Valley EMS, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, and the Montana Highway Patrol all responded to the scene across the street from 3 Whitetail Road.