HOPE — The Cougar Fire has reached the 5,000-acre mark, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The lightning-caused fire took root on July 28 and has 130 firefighter working to contain it.

Planned actions as of Friday included taking necessary holding actions as the fire nears an established fuel break along Porcupine Trail and Wellington Creek. Air resources will be deployed as necessary to slow the fire’s advancement toward the Snotel site on Lightning Mountain and containment lines along Wellington Creek.

Crews will also conduct structure protection measures on the Keeler warming hut, and maintain area, road, and trail closures,” the Forest Service said in a post to InciWeb, an incident management website.

Fire behavior is expected to moderate, although overnight predicted thunderstorms could change the situation as outflow and inflow winds could spread the fire in multiple directions, according to the Forest Service.

“The fire east of Lightning Creek is expected to spread to the west and northeast into Rattle Creek, and across Silvertip Creek into Trapper Creek to the south and Mud and possibly Mink Creek to the north,” the Forest Service added.

The Surprise Creek Fire burning on the east side of Lake Pend Oreille expanded to 2,100 acres.

Planned actions include improving road conditions for firefighter access and continuing construction of a fuel break along Road No. 332.

“Fire managers will use air resources to slow fire advancement toward containment lines as needed and prepare containment line for future firing operations,” the Forest Service said in a post to InciWeb.

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