Two families lose homes in fire

SEELEY LAKE – As Seeley Lake resident Michael Riel and his wife returned from Missoula around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 22, they noticed a light column of smoke from behind Pop's Place. A recently retired 11-year volunteer firefighter/EMT who understood that no one should be burning due to restrictions, he turned off Highway 83 onto Redwood Lane making his way to Juniper Drive to check it out. "It was evident that there was a fire cooking," he said. He began evacuating people from the area and warning people to the east.

Firefighters were called to a "tree close to structures." When they arrive...