Residents in some Helena neighborhoods were evacuated Thursday as officials responded to a fire burning close to the intersection of Highway 12 and Spokane Creek Road.
The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office said evacuations are in place along the west shore of Canyon Ferry, south of West Shore Drive, and the L&C Day Use area. Residents have been evacuated from 24 homes on Loon Road and Candlelight Road, but no structures have been burned.
Mandatory evacuations are also underway for the northwest section of Broadwater County in anticipation of the possibility the wind may shift and move into that area. The Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory evacuations for Jimmy Green and Tremper roads and pre-evacuation orders for LF Baum and Lazy HM.
An evacuation shelter is open at the First Assembly of God Church at 2210 Dodge Ave.
Units from DNRC, the Forest Service and all volunteer fire agencies in the valley are on the scene along with a large air tanker and four helicopters working the fire. There are no reports or assessments of structure damage at this time.
The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's office says the fire is estimated at 1,900 acres.