Negal house destroyed by fire in Zortman

A fire that is believed to have been started when lightning struck a power pole in Zortman and destroyed the home of Steve and Lori Nagel on June 11, has shown the couple just how giving and loving the people of Phillips County and beyond can be.

"This community has helped us out so much," said Stephanie Nagel on Friday. "It is just so hard. I love this community and everything everyone has done for us is overwhelming and heartwarming. We are just so grateful."

Lori and Steve Nagel own and operate a vending business and the Friday night before the fire, made a trip to Great Falls to stock up on supplies before heading home that night at about 11:30.

Besides Steve and Lori, the couple's son, Michael and family friend Kyler Isakson, all went to sleep in the trailer a little after Steve and Lori arrived home. It was about five hours later that Kyler awoke to find the home on fire.

"Kyler is the hero of the day," Stephanie said. "We believe something exploded in the house and woke Kyler. He tried to wake up my brother, but he wasn't budging."

Stephanie, who wasn't at the family home during the fire, said that Kyler then ran into Lori and Steve's bedroom and shouted for them to wake up. From there, he went back to the recliner where Michael was sleeping, flipped the chair over with Michael in it and woke him as well. Stephanie said what happened next is still a little hazy, but at some point Michael was able to get outside the house, hook a trailer to a truck and haul it from the house. The four continued to move vehicles away from the house and grab what they could from the home, but unfortunately, most items were lost including the entire vending inventory Steve and Lori had just purchased.

"The boys were amazing," Stephanie said. "They were able to get inside and save my mom's laptop, my dad's Ipad and everyone made it out with their phones...and some other miscellaneous things, but everything else was lost. The family photos are all gone, everything is gone."

The couple has been married since 1981 and have lived in the trailer for nearly as long. They met in Zortman by chance over 30 years ago and have called the town home ever since. The fire started at approximately 4 a.m. and the trailer was fully engulfed in flames shorty after.

"By the time my parents woke up, the ceiling was completely on fire," Stephanie said.

There is currently a GoFund me site set up for the Nagel family at http://www.gofundme.com/2973e4s and locally an account has been set up at Independence Bank under their last name. The family has received countless donations from community members and organizations.

Fire trucks from Zortman, Landusky and Roy arrived at the fire and were able to keep a large propane tank from exploding, but a greenhouse and two sheds were among the items and structures destroyed. The family has started picking through rubble and cleaning up the site. The Nagel's are hoping to rebuild on the property, but the future is uncertain.

"The insurance isn't enough at all," Stephanie said. "It is very minimal."

Shelly Martin of Zortman's Miner Café is currently in the process of arranging a benefit for the Nagel family at the bar and restaurant. More information about the benefit will be published in the Phillips County News Briefly Section when the event's particulars have been finalized.

The Nagels are down, but not out. Each Independence Day, the family spends the weekend in Zortman and though tragedy struck, they plan on celebrating the 4th of July just like they always do.

"The Fourth is going to be different this year for us," Stephanie said. "But we are still going to celebrate and we are not going to let the fire ruin the event."