Woman arrested in connection with Missoula fire at former restaurant

MISSOULA -- Authorities have arrested Amy Birk, a 34-year-old woman, on arson charges connected to a fire at the former HuHot building on Brooks Street. The incident prompted an investigation involving collaboration between the Missoula Police Department's Arson Unit and officials from the Missoula Fire Department.

The fire, which occurred on March 19th, was traced back to a shed. As part of the investigation, detectives analyzed surveillance footage that showed the suspect in the vicinity of the fire. Thanks to the vigilant observations of an off-duty police officer, Birk was successfully matched to the video and reported to the detectives.

Following this, Birk was brought in for questioning by the detectives and subsequently booked into the Missoula County Detention Facility. Her arrest highlights the effectiveness of thorough investigative work combined with public assistance.

The Missoula Police Department expressed its appreciation for the community's support, particularly the contributions of those who provided surveillance footage, which played a crucial role in identifying and apprehending the suspect quickly.

For those interested, surveillance video of the HuHot fire incident is available for viewing online.