SANDPOINT — For the second consecutive day, firefighters made significant gains on containing the Sunset Fire.

Northern Rockies Team 5 officials said Tuesday that containment of the wildfire in southern Bonner County has increased to 42%. Full containment of the 3,230-acre fire is expected by Sept. 20.

The fire, first reported Aug. 13, has 643 personnel assigned to the fire.

Infrared flights are proving to be an effective tool in fighting the fire with information being sent to firefighters on the ground in real-time.

"They were able to go and use the infrared information that we got, and go ahead and go pick up hot spots and continue to look for more hot spots in those green, kind of dirty burn as we call it, making sure that those fires are extinguished and totally mopped up with the crews that they have," Paul Diaz, an operations chief for Northern Rockies Team 5.

While aerial resources continue to be important in fighting the fire, Diaz said residents will probably see fewer planes and helicopters as crews are able to get hose into additional areas and "get water onto the fire."

Crews successfully connected line around the entire fire perimeter and Hotshot and Type II crews will continue to work the fireline on the southeastern edge near the lake securing and "mopping up" areas of residual heat within the interior, Northern Rockies officials said. 

On the southern and western flanks crews are using pumps, hoselays, and sprinklers in pockets of unburned material where residual heat remains, officials said. Hotshot crews also will continue to secure and mop up over the next few days along the northern edge of fireline. 

In the Maiden Creek area, crews have extended a fireline to the region and continue to make inroads.

"They're also picking up some different hot spots that we've viewed there, and just making sure that there's now nothing hitting the line or nothing across the line … just making sure that they're patrolling and make sure we don't have any slope-overs," Diaz said.

The term refers to a fire edge that has crossed over a control line or natural barrier intended to control the fire.

Hotshot crews remain camped out

Northern Rockies officials said interior pockets of fuel on the fire are expected to continue to burn and growth is expected inside the fire's perimeter where pockets of unburned fuel continue to smolder. Some degree of torching, flare ups, and short-range spotting also is expected in coming days.

Boats are being used to ferry supplies and personnel where needed as Northern Rockies Team 5 members keep a close eye on the fire.

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.

However, the popular campground was spared from the fire, Todd Wendle of the Sam Owen Fire District said.

"Through the coordinated efforts of the ground crews, air support, the fireboats, weather — and some luck — the fire skirted around the favorite campground," Wendle said.

Near Clark Fork, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest resumed management of the Lightning Creek Fire on Aug. 18. The fire, which has burned about 2,515 acres since a lightning strike ignited it on July 30, is 15% contained and has not grown for more than 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

    Todd Wendle shot this photo of the Maiden Rock Campground, which was spared from the fire thanks to the coordinated efforts of firefighters, air support, fireboats and "some luck."