Firefighters responded to a small fire at the Clean and Coin laundry on the 1400 block of 11th Avenue Friday morning.

The fire, reported shortly before 7 a.m., broke out before the business opened for the day. The fire was extinguished by members of the Helena Fire Department at 7:10 a.m.

"Some dust mops were left too close the boiler," said laundry owner Dick Garrett. "There wasn't much to burn in there, but it burned what there was."

Garrett said the damage was minimal. A sensor in the boiler room triggered the alarm. That, Garrett added, prompted the department's quick response, limiting the damage.

Battalion Chief Brad Hampton placed the damage at roughly $5,000. Fire Marshall Craig Trapp added a word of caution.

"In every home and in every business, where there's heating appliances, don't store any flammables or combustibles nearby," he said. "These things need space."

The Clean and Coin opened for business despite the small fire, though Garrett was still waiting for hot water to be restored Friday afternoon.

"The fire was contained to that room," Garrett said. "But if it had got out, it could have spread."

Reporter Martin Kidston: 447-4086 or mkidston@helenair.com