Hours after the Roaring Lion Fire erupted south of Hamilton, displacing over 500 families, the American Red Cross had opened an evacuation shelter at the River Church.

Shelter Manager Beth Morris said the shelter, located in the River Church at the corner of Lewis and Cooper offers beds for the night, hot meals and information for individuals and families evacuated from their homes.

"We've had a few folks spend the night, and we've been feeding people breakfast, lunch and dinner who have been displaced, but are staying in somebody's house or a camper, we've had people come in to get water and use the bathroom," Morris said. "What most folks are looking for is meals and information. We tell people about meetings, and we have a map of the fire zone and what it looked like last night that we picked up at the fire meeting last night. We do have a government liaison who is allowed to give out some information."

Morris said she has met several people who have lost their homes to the fire.

"We had a mother and a daughter who came in last night who were quite upset, and needed clothing," she continued. "We'll be getting clothing for them later today, and we had one guy who walked in and said 'Well, that's what it looked like before I came, but, at least I'm alive, and I'm fine.' But the one thing you have to be ready to do...is listen."

Morris said anyone interested in donating clothing for fire victims can take it to the Episcopal Church at 3rd and DeSmet in Hamilton, from noon to 6 pm.

To make a monetary donation for victims of the Roaring Lion Fire through the Red Cross, send it to The American Red Cross at 5380 West Franklin Road, Boise, Idaho  83705. On your check, specify ' For victims of Roaring Lion Fire in Hamilton, Montana'.

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