Dayton Couple Reflects on Losing Home in Elmo Fire

Living within the burn scar leaves reminders for the Holetts and raises concerns about future fire seasons.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a wildfire-scarred terrain, with the remnants of charred trees and structures dwarfed by the expansive, melancholic environment.The Holett family's harrowing experience with the Elmo Fire serves as a sobering reminder of the lasting impact of wildfires on local communities.Dayton Today

In 2022, the Elmo Fire burned thousands of acres on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. The Holett family was preparing to move into their new home in Dayton when the fire destroyed it, along with their life savings. Nearly four years later, the Holetts have almost finished rebuilding farther up the hill, but living within the burn scar brings reminders of their experience and concerns about the future.

Why it matters

The Holett family's story highlights the long-lasting impact of wildfires on local communities, as well as the challenges of rebuilding and living in areas affected by such disasters. Their experience raises questions about communication and coordination between agencies involved in fire management, and the ongoing risks faced by residents in fire-prone regions.

The details

The Holetts were forced to evacuate their home within 10-15 minutes as the Elmo Fire approached. They believe there were communication issues between the multiple agencies involved in fire management, and that critical air support was unavailable at a crucial time. Now, nearly four years later, the Holetts have almost finished rebuilding their home farther up the hill, but they still face ongoing challenges, such as falling trees and ash from the fire.

  • In 2022, the Elmo Fire burned thousands of acres on the Flathead Reservation.
  • The Holetts were preparing to move into their home in Dayton when the fire destroyed it.
  • Nearly four years later, the Holetts have almost finished rebuilding farther up the hill.

The players

Lisa Holett

A Dayton resident who lost her home in the Elmo Fire.

Steve Holett

Lisa Holett's husband, who also lost their home in the Elmo Fire.

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What they’re saying

“They were saying, 'You gotta get out now.' So, we went to our bottom of our hill and parked and turned around. And our home was gone within 10, 15 minutes of when we left.”

— Lisa Holett

“At one point, it's our understanding that the planes were down during a critical time period. There were agencies pulling in different directions.”

— Lisa and Steve Holett

“When we were thinking, you know, we can't live here anymore. I think the thing that kept coming back to me was, 'Am I gonna regret it someday?' And so I'm glad that we didn't give up.”

— Lisa Holett

“Every year when there's a fire, we get scared. And even though now there's no trees here, we know that we've had ash from the other fire in our driveway, so ash could hit our deck. So, you're not in the clear.”

— Lisa Holett

“We have a 2-mile gravel road to get to the highway. And so we have to take a chainsaw with us. On windy days, the burned trees are falling over the road. They're snapping off, they're falling, the stumps are coming out.”

— Steve Holett

What’s next

The Holetts continue to face ongoing challenges and concerns about the future as they rebuild their home and life within the Elmo Fire burn scar.

The takeaway

The Holett family's experience highlights the long-lasting impact of wildfires on local communities, the difficulties of rebuilding after such disasters, and the need for improved communication and coordination between agencies involved in fire management to better protect residents in fire-prone regions.