HOPE — Cool temperatures and a bit of rain gave firefighters battling the Lightning Creek Fire a break, slowing the wildfire to minimal growth.

"Yesterday's (infrared flight) showed an increase of 10 acres for a total of 2,427 acres," said Kary Maddox, U.S. Forest Service fire information officer.

Cooler temperatures, expected to hover between the mid-50s and mid-60s in the mountains, and rain likely Thursday evening, were expected to moderate fire behavior, as would minimum humidity of 60% to 75%.

Located 9 miles north of Clark Fork, the fire is at 0% containment.

There are now 93 personnel assigned to the fire as well as three engines, a water tender, two excavators, a feller buncher, three falling units, a hand crew and a Hotshot crew. Hotshot crews are specialized teams of highly trained wildland firefighters experienced in battling wildfires.

The slowed growth allowed fire crews to continue to prep and improve Lightning Creek Road for use as a control line and to mop up where the fire has reached the road, Maddox said.

"Extinguishing burning material adjacent to the fire line increases the defensibility of that line as firefighters work to keep the fire east of the road," she said.

Snagging operations continue on Lightning Creek Road to maintain critical access to the fire. Maddox said community and firefighter safety remains the agency's top priority, followed by protecting other values at risk in the fire area, such as the Lightning Peak communication site.

Currently, the size of the fire is 2,427 acres at 0% containment, according to Selkirk Fire Rescue and EMS. There are 93 total personnel fighting the fire.

A Northern Rockies Type 3 incident management team led by Shane Martin was expected to be briefed on the fire Thursday evening and take command Friday morning.

Lightning Creek Road (NFSR 419) is closed from the junction of Trestle Creek Road (NFSR 275) south to the Regal Creek crossing. The closure is necessary to protect public safety and welfare and provide safe firefighting efforts and access, Maddox said.

A temporary flight restriction is in place, restricting all drones and aircraft from operating in the fire area without permission. Unauthorized aircraft pose a serious hazard to aviation personnel, forcing the grounding of aircraft and potentially delaying fire suppression efforts.

Community members will have a chance to ask questions about the Lightning Creek Fire at a community meeting hosted by the U.S. Forest Service Thursday at 7 p.m. at Clark Fork High School.

Local fire management and incident management teams will be on hand to provide information about the fire and address specific concerns from the community.

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