No injuries reported, but blaze causes power outages, evacuations and road closures on West Side

Officials responded to a fire near Kessler Brewery and Spring Meadow Lake Park about 2:02 p.m. Sunday that quickly grew threatening homes and livestock forcing the temporary evacuation of about 500 residents on Country Club Road and Joslyn Trailer Court.

The approximately 50-acre fire burnt several out buildings and one home believed to be vacant, Amy Teegarden, information officer, said.

The cause of fire is unknown although according Teegarden, it is highly suspicious and most likely human caused. The fire is under investigation by the Helena Fire Department and the Lewis and Clark Sheriff's Department.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Cheryl Liedle said what could have been a disaster for Helena never came to pass because of the efforts of fire officials.

There were about 120 fire personnel, 25 apparatuses, two helicopters and a spotter plane on the scene with aid provided by many rural fire departments, Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service, Teegarden said. Members of the Montana Highway Patrol, Helena Police Department and the Lewis and Clark Sheriff's Department were also on the scene.

"It is a great example of mutual aide," Teegarden said.

Liedle says the first priority is safety of people and ensuring the houses threatened by the fire are empty.

"It is an odd feeling running through people's homes when you can't see anything because of the smoke," she said.

The fire caused the temporary closure of Highway 12 West at Hiawatha Street as well as Country Club Avenue and Joslyn Street. Area residents did what they could to help neighbors find safe places for animals, valuables and direct traffic at the chaotic scene.

Approximately 3,000 NorthWestern Energy customers were without power for several hours.

Homer Key, 25, lives in the area and notified officials of a vehicle in jeopardy of burning.

"I've never seen a fire this close before," he said as he stood watching the flames just a few hundred feet away.

Shawn Lay was working inside a home he is remodeling on Hiawatha and Wilder streets when he first smelled smoke and heard sirens.

Lay quickly relocated his boat and dune buggy from the property, which he says were his main concern. Because he was remodeling the home he had nothing valuable inside, he said.

Linda and Dan Elliott own a rental home in the area and quickly notified the three college students living in the home of the encroaching fire.

Justin Pettit, a firefighter from Salt Lake City, assisted officials in crowd management because curious people flocked to the area.

"I'm impressed with Helena Fire," he said as he watched the helicopter above dump water on flames just feet away from a home.

The fire also threatened the Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center with spot fires inside empty animal holding pens. However, the 12 bear cubs being housed ther were not hurt and the newly remodeled structure, soon to be an education center, was not damaged.

Fire personell remained at the scene through the night conducting mop up.