A quick response with three helicopters, a tanker dropping retardant and hand crews subdued a fast-moving wildfire in Lump Gulch Wednesday afternoon.

The Clancy Creek fire, which was reported at about 2 p.m., charred about six acres about three miles up Lump Gulch, just west of Clancy, according to Steve Webb, Helena Interagency Fire Dispatch Center manager.

"It was a very well organized initial attack. This fire had a lot of potential," Webb said.

Three helicopters, which picked up buckets of water from a pond near a home off of Lump Gulch Road were joined by about 40 firefighters. The tanker dropped one load of retardant near the northern flank of the fire, said Karen Semple, information officer with the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department.

At about 6 p.m., a Forest Service helicopter and volunteers from the Montana City, Clancy and Jefferson City fire departments were released from the blaze, Webb said.

Crews from the Forest Service and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation remained on the scene throughout the night to mop up.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Reporter Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com