No one could quite place the cheerful party crashers who burst into the Missoula Rural firefighters' Christmas celebration Sunday afternoon.
The little band of merry folk, adorned in Santa hats and mischievous smiles, sprang through the fire station doors at South Avenue and Reserve Street with a guitar-led version of "Jingle Bells," startling the noisy gathering into silence.
Bemused looks were exchanged across the packed garage where volunteer firefighters, their children, spouses and friends mingled, and one little boy exclaimed: "What the heck? Who are they?"
It wasn't until the youngest members of the singing strangers unrolled a giant, homemade banner bearing the jumbo message "Thank You," dozens of signatures and photos of the day in the life of the Black Mountain fire, that the boy's questions were answered.
"This is from all the residents of O'Brien Creek, Cedar Ridge and Lyon Gulch," said ringleader Kathy Muskopf-Armstrong. "We wanted to pass on a giant-sized thank you."
Along with the surprise and the banner, Muskopf-Armstrong and crew presented a $1,573.58 check to rural fire battalion chief Jess Mickelson, to be used as the firefighters see fit.
A joyful, beaming Mickelson said: "It was way cool for these guys to do this."
"What happened up there and how that community pulled together was wonderful," he said. "We did some amazing things up there, but it was them, and a lot more. Somebody was looking out for all of us.
"I feel honored to have been a part of it."
Matt and Julie Sisler said the caroling, the banner and the donation are the least they could do to show their appreciation of the men and women who saved their Cedar Ridge home this summer.
If it wasn't for the efforts of the Missoula firefighters, who raced against the fire, foaming house after house with fire retardant, their log house would not exist.
"They really laid it on the line for us and we are just grateful," said Julie Sisler.
"There is nothing we can do to fully show our gratitude, but at least we can say thank you," Matt Sisler said. "They are just awesome. They don't consider themselves as heroes, but we sure do."
After the firefighters' fans gave out hugs and sang one last song - "God Bless America" - the banner was hung in one of the station's meeting rooms and the singers went home.
As the Christmas party continued on, firefighters quietly trickled into the back of the station to get a closer look at the banner and read its wild mosaic of messages scrawled around photos by the hands of the people they saved.
"Thank you for your vigilance and hard work," the Bakers wrote.
"Thank you for the skill, endurance and courage," inscribed Dana McMurray.
"Thanks for saving our house. We even enjoy dusting now," the Corti family penned.
"We love you!," declared an anonymous red heart.
After a time, reading through the messages, firefighter Rick Paulsen commented aloud to no one in particular: "This is pretty awesome."
Added firefighter Greg Orr, "I think it's fantastic. It's nice to know you can make a difference."
