SANDPOINT — Crews spent Saturday working toward increased containment of the 3,208-acre Sunset Fire in southern Bonner County.

There are 678 firefighters assigned to the blaze, supported by a variety of resources including heavy equipment, Hotshot and Type 2 hand crews, and planes and helicopters. The fire was 11% contained as of Saturday morning, but that was expected to increase by the end of the day, according to Northern Rockies Team 5 officials leading the firefighting efforts.

Shortly after being reported around 3 p.m. Aug. 13, the fire quickly grew from under an acre to nearly 700 acres within a day. By the following day, it had more than doubled, and on Friday, it expanded by more than 1,000 acres, reaching just over 2,700 acres.

Water scoopers and helicopters continue to assist firefighting efforts with water drops on the southern, western and northern flanks of the fire. To allow crews to operate safely, boaters are asked to avoid the lake’s western shore near the fire.

Hotshot crews completed a small burnout operation to eliminate unburned fuel on the fire’s northeastern edge. Firefighters finished the operation around 1 a.m., officials said.

A fireline was completed and tied into the steep terrain of Maiden Creek to the north, meaning all necessary steps have been taken to prevent the fire from advancing beyond that line. Hotshot and Type 2 hand crews also completed a small section of fireline near Lake Pend Oreille. Near the fire’s northernmost edge, Hotshot crews remain camped nearby to maintain access for continued firefighting.

With temperatures rising and humidity remaining low, area residents are likely to see more visible smoke as larger fuels burn, officials said.

“The fire has not made westerly progression and is not anticipated to in the near future,” Northern Rockies officials said in a Saturday update, noting that poor overnight recovery is expected to extend the fire’s active burn windows.

“Active fire behavior will be more favorable earlier in the day,” they said. “Fire behavior with flanking, torching, short-range spotting and rollouts will increase, with possible short uphill runs.”

Area closures are in effect on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The closure includes all National Forest System lands along the western shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille, from Camp Bay south to the Three Sisters Horizontal Control Station. It extends west to Three Sisters Creek, then north to just south of National Forest System Road 230. From there, it follows a stepped northeast path to Hickman Creek, continues east to the forest boundary, and then heads north to Sagle Road. The boundary then extends east back to Camp Bay.

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 15% contained and has not grown for nearly a week.

Fire activity on the Lightning Creek Fire is minimal, with creeping and smoldering in isolated areas. Firefighting efforts are being led by Incident Commander Kelly Tucker of the Sandpoint Ranger District.

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/3HR16gm; Bonner County Sheriff's Office, bonnerso.org

    Water from a fire boat working on the Sunset Fire creates a rainbow as water hits the trees.
  

    Area residents show their support for the firefighters working the Sunset Fire by posting several signs on roads in southern Bonner County.