▶️ Listen to this article now.

SANDPOINT — The Trestle Creek Complex is 5% contained as of Thursday.

Firefighters were able to fight the complex directly in some areas thanks to the rise in precipitation and drop in temperatures, Dorothy Harvey, Type 3 Nevada Incident Command Team public information officer, said. In addition, the containment lines firefighters were able to establish are being expanded upon.

The measured area of the complex has grown due to more precise imaging; 6,180-acres have been burned since July 7 when a lightning strike ignited the fires about four miles north of Hope. One-hundred-fifty-eight fire personnel are divided among three hand crews, three water tenders, 11 engines, and other sects working to further contain the containment line already established.

Seasonal weather patterns are bringing drier air from the southwest. Humidity is expected to drop below 50% in some regions. Trace amounts of rain are expected.

“[The] safety of the public and firefighters is our first priority,” Harvey said in a press release “All members of the public are asked to drive with caution in the area, especially when encountering firefighting personnel, vehicles, or equipment.”

Road closures in the area remain in place, with closures spanning from Highway 200 where it intersects with Trial 57, going northeast until reaching the peak of Mount Pend Oreille, then going south along the forest boundary until meeting with Lightning Creek Road, and then following the forest boundary along Forest Road 419 until it intersects with Highway 200.

Other notable fires in Bonner County airspace is the Jay Peak fire. Now fully contained, the fire three miles east of Naples burned 12 acres, and was contained at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and mop up efforts in the area continue.

The Burnt Peak Fire has crossed the Montana border, and continues to burn with 29% of the fire contained. Burning 4,066-acres, 161 personnel from Great Basin Team 5 continue to split resources between that fire — nine miles southwest of Troy, and the South Yaak Fire four miles northwest of Troy. The South Yaak Fire has burned 11,585-acres and is 49% contained as of Thursday evening. Both fires were started by lightning strikes in the first half of July.

The Character Complex, which began as the Deceitful and Prichard fires, has burned 12,259 acres according to InciWeb, an interagency fire tracking website, the complex is 10% contained, a 271-person Type 3 incident management team is working to regain electrical power in the area. No residences have been destroyed, but a few sheds and outbuildings have burned, according to a Thursday press release. Crews are working to establish fire lines along Kings Pass and Beaver Creek.

To the southwest, the Stateline Complex on the Montana border has burned 12,757 acres, and is 15% contained. Located southwest of St. Regis, three separate Type 3 teams are fighting the complex, which also began by lightning strike on July 7. Direct and indirect fire lines are being established to the north and west portions of the fire. The cost of fighting the complex is estimated to be around $19.6 million.

To get up to date information for evacuation status for your area, text your zip code to 888777 to sign up for Nixle alerts. For information on where the smoke in the air is coming from, go to fire.airnow.gov. To get details about a specific fire, go online to inciweb.nwcg.gov.