On Dec. 5, at 0800 HRS, firefighters worked in subzero temperatures to extinguish a blaze at a grain elevator in Circle, Mont. Firefighters initially took an offensive position against a fire. Using 2 ½" and 1 ½" lines, firefighters used 237,000 gallons of water on the fire before realizing it had spread into the next interior bin. Fire officials knew there was no way to extinguish the fire, as it was an overhead interior bin filled with meal. The offensive attack was called off at 1000 HRS when the risk of explosion was too great to risk the lives of the 22 firefighters on scene.

A West Glendive pumper truck was set up on the east side, and the Circle Fire Department had two pumpers set up on the north and south ends of the structure for protection. The fire ultimately destroyed the grain elevator and a feed-processing plant that provided pellets for cattle and sheep across Eastern Montana and parts of Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. The fire was finally out by Dec. 6 at approximately 1000 HRS.