CLARK FORK — Despite warmer, drier weather, fire behavior on the Lightning Creek Fire has remained low, helping crews make strides in bringing the fire under control.

While the fire's size inched upward for the second day, increasing to 2,461 acres, the fire is now  10% contained, Kory Johnson, U.S. Forest Service fire information officer, said in a Tuesday press release.

 The fire is actively backing and flanking through drying fuels in some areas. However, firefighters are able to use both direct and indirect suppression efforts, keeping it from spreading toward the communities closest to the fire.

"Firefighters continue to increase the defensibility and safety of the Lightning Creek Road as a control line by cutting and hauling hazardous trees and thinning brush," Johnson said.

There are 141 personnel assigned to the fire, which is located nine miles north of Clark Fork. Firefighting efforts are being led by Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 9, led by Shane Martin.

Also assigned to the fire are five engines, a water tender, eight excavators and a feller buncher as well as a hand crew and hotshot firefighters. Hotshot crews are specialized teams of highly trained wildland firefighters experienced in battling wildfires.

While the continued high temperatures increase the possibility for faster fire spread and higher intensity, fire behavior has remained relatively low. The fire continues to creep and back through dry logs and brush toward control lines, Forest Service officials said.

"Where safe, firefighters continue to cool hot spots along the fire edge, which is a direct tactic with firefighters working next to the fire. In other areas, firefighters use indirect tactics —another fire suppression tactic where firefighters are not in direct contact with flames," Johnson said.

Indirect tactics include removing brush and using containment lines and features farther from the fire edge. 

"Often, the decision to use indirect tactics is to ensure firefighter safety, such as in areas with constantly falling fire-weakened dead trees," Johnson said. "Firefighters’ main objective is to reduce fire spread towards communities, particularly during hot and dry weather, when fire behavior may increase."

An area closure order is in place for the area surrounding the fire. Also, 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.

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.

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