SEELEY LAKE, Mont. (AP) - Firefighters did what little they could in warm, breezy weather Tuesday to keep a large wildfire threatening about 1,500 homes away from this northwestern Montana tourist town.

More than 22 square miles have burned since the blaze started Friday about 50 miles northeast of Missoula. Firefighters were concerned that higher winds could force the flames toward Seeley Lake, a town with about 5,000 residents in the summer. "We are prepared for the worst, and people should pray for the best," Gov. Brian Schweitzer said.

From the air, the fire initially looked like a series of small campfires lapping at trees, but then a big swath of blackened forest came into view, including the rubble of one home.