(HELENA) Firefighters say a home in the South Hills outside Helena did not receive major damage from a fire early Saturday morning.
The fire started before 5 a.m., in a secondary structure adjacent to a home on Crossfire Drive. Chief Rick Abraham of the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department said smoke detectors alerted the homeowners, who were able to get out safely.
Abraham said the fire was visible from a long distance away, and multiple people called 911 to report it.
By the time crews arrived, the outside structure was fully engulfed. Abraham said the fire did reach the second floor of the main house, but they were able to limit the damage. He said the building is repairable, and that the family will not be displaced.
Abraham said the fire highlights the importance of taking safety precautions.
“This is a great example of working smoke detectors notifying the family to get out,” he said.
Abraham said the outside structure was too badly damaged for investigators to determine what caused the fire.
Though the fire was in Montana City’s jurisdiction, the Helena Fire Department was actually the first agency to arrive at the scene. The Clancy, Jefferson City, East Helena, East Valley and Eastgate volunteer fire departments also assisted.
-Jonathon Ambarian reporting for MTN News
