HELENA — Firefighters on the Horse Gulch Fire northeast of Helena are expecting challenging fire weather Saturday afternoon and evening.
According to the fire information site Inciweb, the fire is just over 11,600 acres and 0% contained as of Saturday morning.
During a public meeting on Friday night, current fire managers announced that the Type 3 team handling the fire will be transitioning to the larger Northern Rockies Team 2, a complex incident management team.
Firefighters will continue to concentrate on keeping the fire east of Jimtown Rd and north of Canyon Ferry.
Evacuations and closures are in effect for the following areas:
- York Rd. up to Vigilante Campground
- Cave Gulch to Magpie Gulch on both sides of Canyon Ferry Rd
- Riverside Campground
- Hellgate Campground
- Canyon Ferry Rd between Canyon Ferry Village and Hellgate Gulch
Authorities give updates on Horse Gulch Fire, plane crash
Individuals needing to access their property for essential items must be escorted. Escorts will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis Saturday morning and will conclude at 10:00 a.m. Each escort is limited to 15 minutes.
Officials reiterated during the Friday night meeting that no structures have been lost so far.
The Horse Gulch fire began on the afternoon of July 9 on U.S. Forest Service land. Forest Service law enforcement investigators are seeking information, including photos, of vehicles in the area that day or the fire’s early stages.
Submit tips to: SM.FS.HLC_Tip_Line@usda.gov.
One person perished while fighting the fire. Juliana Turchetti, 45, lost her life when her single-engine air tanker crashed into Hauser Lake.
The NTSB is conducting an investigation. An initial report is anticipated within the next two weeks, while the final report could take about 18 months to complete.
Sheriff Leo Dutton urged boaters on the lakes during the Friday meeting to be aware of firefighting planes and helicopters and to stay clear of their path.
How you can help: The Horse Gulch Fire
The Helena Area Community Foundation and the TriCounty COAD have established a relief fund to assist individuals affected by the Horse Gulch Fire.
As of Saturday morning, the organizations are specifically requesting monetary donations. Organizers stress that money enables support groups to acquire precisely what they need, eliminating the accumulation of unusable or outdated items.
Donations will be used for:
- Emergency shelter and food for displaced families
- Medical supplies
- Equipment and supplies for firefighters
- Restoration and rebuilding efforts (if required)
Donations can be made online at HelenaAreaCommunityFoundation.org or dropped off at 901 N. Benton in Helena.
For check donations, please indicate “fire” in the memo line.
Evacuated individuals in need of assistance can contact the Red Cross, with a shelter set up at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 3580 N. Benton St. in Helena.
Inciweb
