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EVARO - A family barely escaped safely from their home as it went up in flames on Tuesday evening.

The Frenchtown Rural Fire Department reports the fire started when one of the children lit a dress on fire and when fire crews arrived on scene shortly after 5:30 p.m., they found flames erupting from the front and back of the home.

The Missoula Rural Fire District responded to the scene to aid Frenchtown fire at the home, which was burning off of U.S. Highway 93 at the base of Evaro Hill.

The family has five small children who all safely made it out of the home, but officials say that their two dogs and two cats died in the fire and that the home is a total loss.

An off duty Montana Highway Patrol Trooper was one of the first to stop and help the family as they waited for fire crews to arrive.

Firefighters fought the fire for a good hour and spent several more hours on Thesday monitoring a hot spot located in attic to make sure it didn't flare up.

"The family is here [Tuesday evening] trying to recover some of their property, so as soon as they are done, we will go back in to the house and pour some more water on the hot spot inside," said Frenchtown Fire Chief John Bibler on Tuesday evening.

The family was renting the home and don't have insurance. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

(first report)

EVARO - A family barely escaped safely from their home as it went up in flames Tuesday night.

The Frenchtown Fire Department reports the fire started Tuesday afternoon one of the children lit a dress on fire.

Fire crews arrived on scene shortly after 5:30 and found flames erupting from the front and back of the home.

Frenchtown fire responded with aid from the Missoula Rural Fire District to the home located on U.S.Highway 93 at the base of Evaro Hill.

The family has five small children who got out safe, but their four pets, two dogs and two cats died in the fire. The home is a total loss.

An off duty Montana Highway Patrolman was one of the first to stop and help the family as they waited for fire crews to arrive.

Firefighters fought the fire for a good hour, and tell us that there is still one hot spot located in attic which they will monitor throughout the Tuesday nigTht.

The family was renting the home and don't have insurance. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.