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  • Lakeside Fire near Helena
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  • Lakeside Fire

All road closures and evacuation orders are lifted in the Lakeside Fire area. People can resume normal travel; however, please drive carefully and slowly on Jimtown Road near the fire area, since there is still a significant amount of fire traffic, and firefighters are walking along the roadways to patrol the fire perimeter.

The Lakeside Fire, which was started on July 16 in the Browns Gulch area north of Canyon Ferry Lake, is approximately 855 acres and was reported as 85% contained and 60% controlled, as of 6 p.m. on July 18. Although the fire is contained, people will probably still see smoke as firefighters continue to mop-up.

As a reminder, the Riverside campground is being used as the Incident Command Post for fire personnel and equipment, so this site will remain closed to public until the fire camp is moved. Please drive safely and slowly near this area.

(Sunday morning update) The Lakeside Fire burning north of Canyon Ferry lake has now consumed about 855 acres. An estimated 150 firefighters are actively engaged in battling the blaze.

On Friday, crews were successful in digging handlines on the west flank of the fire as well as back-burning along Jimtown Road. Evacuations are still in effect for the York, Eagle Bay and east-shore of Canyon Ferry Lake areas.

Jimtown Road remains closed to public access from both sides; residents are allowed through this roadblock for emergency necessities only. Residents along Jimtown, Ward and Horse Gulch roads were evacuated yesterday; evacuation orders remain in-place today.

Many residents remain without power due to the powerline that was burned in the fire; NorthWestern Energy officials are on the site to assess the situation. It is not yet known when power will be restored.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. For more information, people can call the fire information hotline at 406-449-5490.

(July 16, 2010) The Lakeside fire burning near Hauser Lake has burned an estimated 360 acres and is still growing, according to Katherine Bushnell of the Helena National Forest Service.

The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's office reports that the fire is moving from Brown's Gulch towards the dam.

There are currently four helicopters and several engines working to contain the blaze, and an estimated 150 personnel. The MT DNRC, US Forest Service, Tri-Lakes, and other area fire departments are all battling the fire.

Scroll down for more video and a map of the area.

(First Report, 6:28 pm) A wildfire has sparked east of Helena just east of Hauser Lake. The News Station's Marnee Banks is near the scene and reports that the Riverside Campground has been evacuated, and that Sheriff Leo Dutton said that several homes in the area have been cleared.

One camper told us that the campsite had been full - all 26 units - and that everyone had been evacuated. Structures along Horse Gulch Road are also being evacuated.

The fire is burning in dense timber - primarily "red and dead" trees - and there are at least two helicopters airborne, along with firefighters responding from Eastgate, in addition to Lewis & Clark County officials.

We will post additional information as it becomes available.

You can follow Marnee on Twitter (@MarneeBanks) for additional updates from the scene.

Approximate location via Google Maps:

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