Early Tuesday morning at a trailer park on Big Flat Road, a camper trailer suddenly exploded with flames shooting over 35 feet in the air, causing severe burns to an occupant of the trailer.

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Brenda Bassett said the office’s own fire investigator was on the scene to determine if any criminal charges might be filed.

“The call came in to our dispatch center at about 12:15 in the morning on Tuesday that an explosion had occurred in the Wagon Wheel Trailer Village,” said Bassett. “When first responders arrived they found one individual, a male in his 30’s, who was wandering around the area who had some very, very bad burns. He was transported to St. Patrick Hospital for treatment.”

Bassett then referenced the MCSO fire investigator.

“Our fire investigator along with the Missoula Rural Fire investigator both determined that a small fire had started in the oven which then ignited an explosion that blew out one side of the camper trailer,” she said. “Fortunately, it went out one side rather than the other which abutted two other camper trailers, which were also damaged by the explosion and fire.”

Bassett said their investigator found that butane was the cause of the explosion.

Bassett said both investigators have wrapped up their work at the scene and will now determine if any criminal charges will be filed with the Missoula County Attorney’s Office.

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