SANDPOINT — Significant gains were made this weekend on the Sunset Fire with crews reaching 32% containment of the 3,230-acre wildfire in southern Bonner County.

While the acreage is slightly higher, Northern Rockies Team 5 officials said it does not indicate the fire has grown. Instead, they said the number represents more accurate mapping from overnight infrared flights.

"We're looking really confident on the south end here," said Greg Shenk, Northern Rockies operation section chief, in a Sunday afternoon video update. "I do not anticipate any progression to the south whatsoever, continuing on toward the heel of the fire."

Hotshots and Type 2 hand crews are working to complete a small section of fireline south of Maiden Creek along the western flank. Officials said the Type 2 hand crew will work to complete the fireline on the southeastern edge near the lake and will secure and “mop up” areas of residual heat. 

Hotshots will continue to secure and “mop up” areas of concentrated heat along the most active northern edge. This work is especially difficult due to the uneven, patchy pattern of burned and unburned fuels and steep terrain across much of the fire area, officials said. 

"It's a very dirty burn," Shenk said. "It's got a lot of waves to it, so there's a lot of ground to cover to make sure we don't miss anything there."

In the northernmost area of the fire, hotshot crews remain camped, or “spiked out” near areas of the most concentrated heat.

Helicopters will continue to assist all firefighting efforts using water drops to support crews on the ground. Structure protection teams will continue to validate the protection measures in place.

A portable dock will continue to be used to more safely insert and extract crews from watercraft. From the lakeshore, watercraft inserted crews and provided support and lookouts. A drone unit with infrared capabilities will continue to provide information to crews on locations of hot spots and residual heat.

The public is reminded that Maiden Rock Campground, along the western shore of Lake Pend Oreille and within the Forest Service closure area, is closed until further notice.

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.

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