Firefighters knocked down a wildfire on Mount Helena Monday afternoon.
The fire was burning just below the summit and the smoke plume was visible from town.
A spokesperson for the city said as of 5 p.m. crews had it contained and command of the fire was transferred to Montana Department of Natural Resources.
The cause of the fire was unknown as of Monday evening. The Helena Fire Department and DNRC responded to the fire with two engines, a helicopter and a UTV.
At 4:40 p.m., DNRC sized the fire at .25 acres and said it was creeping in light timber and grass.
A Helena Police Department vehicle sits at the Mount Helena Trailhead on June 15 as a fire breaks out atop the mountain.
SONNY TAPIA, Independent Record
Helena police were on scene at the Mount Helena trailhead Monday afternoon preventing people from using the trails and Helena firefighters were seen hiking to the site of the fire.
Officials asked that residents and visitors stay out of the area and let emergency personnel work.
Additionally, fire staff requested the public refrain from flying drones in the area to make way for aerial firefighting response.
A smoke plume from a wildfire that started on Mount Helena is visible from town on June 15.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
First responders gather in the parking lot of the Mount Helena Trailhead on June 15 after responding to a wildfire call.
SONNY TAPIA, Independent Record
A fire on Mount Helena is seen from Lawrence Street on June 15.
SONNY TAPIA, Independent Record
A Montana DNRC Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter turns around to face Mount Helena on June 15 as a fire burns atop the mountain.
"SONNY TAPIA,Independent Record"
Thom Bridge is the Deputy Editor of the Helena Independent Record. Before that, he was a photojournalist with the IR and Montana State News Bureau.
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