Flathead National Forest officials last week were monitoring a wild fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness near Big Prairie but allowing it to burn.

By Aug. 14, the Hammer Creek Fire had grown to 140 acres about 40 miles south of the Spotted Bear Ranger Station but didn't present a threat to Forest infrastructure.

Forest spokesperson Melissa Wilson said the Forest was allowing the Hammer Creek Fire "to play its natural role on the landscape in the wilderness."

All told, seven small wild fires had been ignited by lightning in the Spotted Bear Ranger District. Five were outside designated wilderness land, and all but the Hammer Creek Fire were no longer active. Late August is often the peak time for wild fires in Northwest Montana.

"Conditions are ripe for fire, so we encourage people to make sure that their camp fires are put out properly," Wilson said.

Other area fires include:

• The South Fork Lost Creek Fire has burned about 250 acres of state and federal land southeast of Swan Lake. A Type 3 incident team was expected to take over the firefighting effort on Aug. 15.

• The Elya Creek Fire burned about a tenth of an acre west of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

• A fire on Peters Ridge on the Swan Range near Jewel Basin was being dealt with by state firefighters. Helicopters were dumping water on the fire on Sunday.