Late-night fire leaves 30 downtown Helena residents displaced

Phil Drake

Nearly 30 people have been displaced following a late-night fire at a building in downtown Helena, fire officials said Tuesday.

The Helena Fire Department received a report about 9:50 p.m. Monday of a fire at 415 N. Last Chance Gulch, fire Chief Jon Campbell said.

Crews reported smoke permeating throughout the four-story building with concentrations on the second and third floors on the south side of the structure, he said in an email.

Fire scene tape marks off the Iron Front Hotel building on Last Chance Gulch Tuesday morning after a late night fire in the building.

THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record

Campbell said Tuesday that electricity has been determined to be the cause and said the fire started in “void space” between the second and third floors where there was electric wiring and conduit. No injuries have been reported, he said.

Several residents were evacuated by fire crews, and property management estimates 30 residents are displaced with areas of the building sustaining a mix of fire, smoke and water damage, Campbell said, adding the Red Cross is working

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