Fund Created to Help Helena Firefighter Who Lost Home to Blaze

The Helena Firefighters IAFF Local 448 has established a support fund for one of its own after a fast-moving fire on March 12 destroyed a two-story home on Divine Drive belonging to a Helena Fire Department firefighter, leaving the family with a complete loss and a couple of cats still unaccounted for.

The call came in around 11:12 a.m. for a garage fire east of the Canyon Ferry Road roundabout. By the time crews arrived, flames had already spread from the garage to the house, and the structure was fully engulfed. Winds gusting up to 40 mph in the East Helena Valley fed the blaze, which was visible as massive flames from Canyon Ferry Road, drawing bystanders who pulled over to watch. Crews from seven fire departments, East Valley, Eastgate, Tri-Lakes, West Valley, City of Helena, Montana City and East Helena, worked the fire for hours before bringing it fully under control around 3:00 p.m.

One of the owners was inside the home when the fire broke out but escaped without injury. No other human injuries were reported. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton confirmed the structure was a complete loss and said the fire is not considered suspicious. East Valley Fire Chief Willie Wagner told MTN that investigators believe a heat lamp in the garage, which had been keeping chicks warm, started the fire.

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and East Helena Police assisted with operations and traffic control, and the surrounding neighborhood was blocked off due to a propane tank hazard on the scene.

Neighbor Davis, who lives near the property, described watching the fire spread as frightening given how fast conditions were changing. "It is just a devastating thing to see, being concerned about everybody else around us, especially the house next door, and if the wind shifts it could be the whole neighborhood and it is just a scary thing," Davis said. She added that the incident reinforced how much neighbors need to look out for one another. "I appreciate the vigilance, my neighbor texted me letting me know. I feel like we should all come together more, have more communication, everybody should have phone numbers, and have each other's back."

Helena Firefighters IAFF Local 448 set up the Helena Firefighters Benevolent Fund to help the family recover. Monetary donations can be mailed to 300 Neill Avenue, Helena, Montana, 59601. The firefighter's identity has not been publicly released. The status of the family's missing cats had not been confirmed as of the time of reporting.