Large Fire In Poplar Destroys Church

As of presstime Tuesday, Aug. 25, firefi ghters were still on the scene at a structure fire at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. Poplar Assistant Fire Chief Jonah Riediger said they responded to call at 2:16 a.m. after a report of smoke from the ceiling. Upon arrival, they found heavy smoke, and a four-man team went inside the church. Due to conditions, such as the roof caving in, firefighting operations had to be restricted to the exterior. “It’s a 100 percent loss at this time, sadly.” Lewis Matthews, chief of police for the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, said agencies responding were the Poplar Volunteer Fire Department, Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department, Roosevelt County Sheri_’s Oce and FPTDLJ. (Photo courtesy of the Poplar Volunteer Fire Department)