Man charged for massive Aug. 5 fire

A man has been charged with misdemeanor negligent endangerment in Flathead County Justice Court for allegedly starting a massive fire Aug. 5 in Evergreen.

The fire burned 10 buildings and 6.5 acres in the middle of an Evergreen neighborhood.

Joseph Ray Devera, a transient, faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

According to court documents, witnesses identified Devera as the possible cause of the fire, and when law enforcement interviewed him, Devera said that a small fire ignited when the burning end of his cigarette was knocked to the ground.

The fire rekindled 30 minutes later and Devera told law enforcement that he tried to put it out with a blanket, but instead ended up fanning the flames to a point where the blaze was uncontrollable.

One man was burned on his shoulder while escaping the fire and another elderly woman avoided injury by being pulled over a fence by law enforcement.

A massive firefighting effort was required to quell the fire on Mountain View Drive.

Through heavy smoke and flames, personnel from 12 agencies battled the flames. Two helicopters made rounds overhead to drop water on the fire.

 Devera also faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for an unrelated felony theft charge.

Devera allegedly was found on Aug. 16 in possession of a Chevy Impala that was reported stolen from a home on U.S. 2, east of Kalispell. According to court documents, officers found a pipe suspected of containing methamphetamine in the vehicle and sent it to the Montana Crime Lab for analysis.

He pleaded not guilty to the felony theft charge.

Reporter Megan Strickland may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.