GREAT FALLS — Christmas Day took on varying shades of excitement and urgency this year for the residents of Great Falls as the community engaged with both joyous celebrations and emergency incidents.
Early on Christmas morning, Great Falls Fire Rescue crews found themselves responding to two separate fires, keeping firefighters on their toes amid the holiday festivities. The first fire reared its head just before 2:00 AM at a second-story apartment located on the 1200 block of Fifth Avenue South. Reports indicated the fire initiated on the balcony, swiftly making its way inside the apartment. Thankfully, firefighters managed to stave off the blaze from spreading to nearby units and no injuries were reported. While firefighters contained the damage to one apartment, smoke and water damage affected the entire building. For some affected residents, assistance from the American Red Cross was on hand, and others received temporary accommodations from the apartment's owner.
Just hours later, at approximately 6:35 AM, firefighters were alerted to another fire at an apartment complex situated at the intersection of Eighth Avenue South and 54th Street. Upon arrival, they discovered flames consuming a plastic chair and plant pot on the second-story balcony. Due to the swift action of the fire crews, the blaze was quickly extinguished, resulting only in minor damage to the balcony, and thankfully no one was displaced. Investigations are currently underway to determine the exact causes of both fires.
Despite these emergencies, Christmas morning also ushered smiles and laughter through the streets of Great Falls, thanks to the sixth annual Operation Santa event. Hundreds of volunteers, led by members of the Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department, took to the neighborhoods to deliver presents to children on Christmas Day. Laura Vukasin, one of the enthusiastic volunteers, shared, “We've got our horses. We've got the Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department, and we're gonna head out to the…kind of the south and northwest side of Great Falls and deliver Christmas gifts.”
With around 150 to 200 volunteers and over 700 gifts wrapped with care, the holiday spirit flourished between participating families and those on the receiving end. Volunteers sorted gifts by age before delivering them directly to children, creating moments of surprise and delight. Tyler Lapierre, another volunteer, explained the process saying, "The elves are coming up this here. They'll say, ‘Hey, we need a present for an eight year old boy. Nine year old girl.’ We've got here all our presents sorted out here, and, we'll give them out to the elves to go take out to the kids.”
The event not only focuses on gift deliveries; it also strengthens communal bonds across the town, fostering togetherness during the holidays. Resident Brenda Harrison reflected on the surprising yet delightful experience of witnessing the parade saying, “I’m from a big city. And you don’t get this, you know, in a big city, like, I’ve never seen a parade go right down the front of the house.”
The sentiment was shared by Taresa Burleigh, who expressed emotional gratitude for the activities, stating, “It brought tears to my eyes almost, because I think we need more ofthat in this world, especially right now.”
This duality of experiences—from urgent firefighting efforts to heartwarming community gatherings—has highlighted the spirit of Great Falls, where, as opportune as the celebrations were, teamwork, kindness, and compassion emerged even more prominently. While firefighters tended to the emergencies, the community shone brightly through the selfless efforts of volunteers who brought joy and surprise to local children amid their Christmas traditions.
Further updates will be provided concerning any potential donation drives or community support programs to assist residents affected by the fires, showcasing how the community continues to uplift one another during the holiday season.
