LAKEVIEW — The U.S. Forest Service is hosting a meeting today to update the lakeside community on the Surprise Creek Fire.

The meeting gets underway at 5 p.m. at the schoolhouse in Lakeview.

The Surprise Creek Fire took hold on July 27, following a lightning storm. It was at 1,800 acres on Wednesday and moderate spread is expected with rollouts and short-range spotting to the north and northeast into Snow Creek.

Limited growth is expected to the northwest along Forest Service Road No. 2378. Heavy equipment crews are making progress to improve a fuel break along the Bunco Road (No. 332).

Forest visitors are encouraged to exercise caution on lower Bunco Road due to the presence of fire traffic.

An area closure has been implemented as a result of the Surprise Creek Fire.

Its bounds generally include forest lands by Bunco Road, between Road Nos. 205 and 258, Spruce Creek to Devils Peak, and south beyond Independence Creek.

Lower temperatures moderated fire behavior on the Cougar Fire east of Hope, Forest Service officials said. It was at 3,700 acres on Wednesday.

“Ideal fire conditions again allowed fire managers to continue burnout operations on the remainder of the southeast corner of the fire to complete the fuel break along Porcupine Trail,” the Forest Service said in a news release.

The fire west of Lightning Creek continues to hold on the ridgetop above Wellington Creek on the north perimeter. The southeast edge of the fire to the east of Lightning Creek Road continues backing into Silvertip Creek. Crews have hose lays along Silvertip Creek and aviation resources will be utilized as needed.

An area closure has been implemented and is generally bounded along forest lands from Scotchman Peak to East Hope, from East Hope to Wellington Creek to Rattle Creek, from Rattle Creek to Lightning Mountain, and from Lightning Mountain to Scotchman Peak. Scotchman Peak trails, however, remain open.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.