Seeley Swan Pathfinder -

SEELEY LAKE – It is no secret that the Rice Ridge Fire took a huge toll on our community mentally, physically and economically.

This also happened in 2007 during the Jocko Lakes Fire. Community members are quick to say the economic loss was in the millions with Highway 83 shut down for nearly two weeks and half of the area evacuated. However no one ever tried to quantify the impact.

The Rice Ridge Fire added a whole new issue with the worst air quality ever reported in Missoula County. There were also lake closures and evacuations of more than half of town that lasted nearly two weeks f...