SANDPOINT — Crews continue to hold the line on the Sunset Fire, as the 10-day-old wildfire in southern Bonner County remains stalled at 3,208 acres.

“There’s still a lot of work to be had, but forward progression is stopped, and we don’t anticipate any movement of the fire’s south end,” Northern Rockies Operations Section Chief Greg Shenk said in a video update Friday on efforts along the fire’s southern flank.

About 700 personnel are assigned to the fire, which was first reported around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 13. Containment is at 11%.

Hotshot and Type 2 hand crews are working to hold and improve firelines from north to south, from Pearl Creek to Maiden Creek. Some Hotshot crews will be camping near the fireline on the northern flank, where they are expected to remain for several days.

Northern Rockies officials said crews are working their way into remote areas, with watercraft helping supply water to cool hotspots and active flames. Aerial resources, including scoopers and helicopters, continue to assist firefighting efforts with water drops to support crews on the ground.

Crews are also working to hold and improve firelines along the western flank, moving northward through steep terrain toward Maiden Creek. Mop-up operations to address residual heat will continue on the southwestern flank. Aerial resources will remain active in supporting ground crews.

Despite the steep and rocky terrain, crews are engaging the fire and working to complete a handline — a firebreak created by removing vegetation to prevent the fire’s spread.

“We’re expecting in the next 24 hours that handlines will be complete,” Shenk said. “And then we’ll be in a holding and secure situation.”

Crews continue mop-up operations on the southern flank, where the fireline is secure and holding, Shenk said.

On the lower western flank up to Maiden Creek, crews have halted the fire’s progression and do not anticipate further movement in the area. Crews, including a Hotshot unit, are mopping up, completing additional handlines, and directly attacking the fire.

On the opposite side near Talache Creek, crews are also directly attacking the fire. A “slopover” was discovered nearby, but officials said crews limited the fire to a small area, roughly 30 by 30 feet.

While much work remains, officials said they are confident in the progress being made.

“Crews are in there, aircraft are in there,” Shenk said. “We feel comfortable with that. We’re still in the fight there. I’m feeling really good with it.”

However, single-tree torching is likely to result in more visible smoke in the surrounding area.

“Just know that crews are on the ground working,” Shenk said. “I’m feeling really good about where we’re at right now.”

A structure protection unit remains near the northern flank, continuing to assess protections for homes and buildings. Plumbing, hose lays, and sprinklers have been added south of the Talache area.

“We’re feeling really good with that if anything weird happens and we have the fire move progressively north,” Shenk said.

Crews continue containment efforts along the lakeshore. Nearby structures, including U.S. Navy facilities, are in good condition, Shenk said. Four Navy boats are supporting operations by inserting crews close to the fire and ferrying supplies.

With scoopers pulling water from Lake Pend Oreille, boaters are asked to avoid the lake’s western shore near the fire to give aircraft room to operate.

Evacuations remain in place throughout southern Bonner County. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office has updated the list of roads under “Set” and “Go” status as part of the Ready-Set-Go evacuation protocol. “Ready” means residents should have an evacuation plan; “Set” means they should begin implementing that plan; and “Go” means residents should leave immediately.

Near Clark Fork, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest resumed management of the Lightning Creek Fire on Monday. The fire, which has burned about 2,515 acres since a lightning strike ignited it July 30, is 25% contained.

Fire activity remains minimal, with creeping and smoldering in isolated areas.

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

Information: Lightning Creek Fire, bit.ly/4l5NhIB; Sunset Fire, bit.ly/45EwwP9; and Bonner County Sheriff’s Office: bonnerso.org