Residents evacuated from their homes due to the Skillet Fire were allowed to return over the weekend as crews gained ground on the blaze west of Olney.

The evacuation order was lifted Aug. 7 for Good, Alder and Greg Creek roads. Those areas remained under an evacuation warning due to the 3,299-acre fire, which is about 3 miles from the Good Creek community.

Containment reached 26% on Monday, with 575 firefighters assigned to the lightning-caused blaze burning on the Tally Lake Ranger District. Crews planned to tie a fire line into the East Fork Fire burn scar along the northeast perimeter.

"Firefighters are making progress in the difficult terrain as they work down toward Alder Creek from the Martin Creek Road," a Monday morning update for the Skillet Fire stated.

Heavy machinery working south from Alder Creek tied into the Robertson Creek area over the weekend, while crews on the southeast corner widened a containment line during mop-up operations. Efforts were underway to widen a fire line on the west side from Twin Meadows to the East Fork burn area.

The estimated cost to fight the fire eclipsed $10 million on Sunday.

In the Pioneer Mountains, the Sand Creek Fire reached 15,784 acres on Monday, while the nearby Bobcat Lake Fire was estimated at 7,686 acres. Over the weekend, residents were ordered to evacuate from the Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain areas. Air tankers on Monday dropped retardant along the south edge of the fire to help slow its growth.

To the west, the Moose Fire had burned about 4,500 acres near the Granite-Ravalli county line. Scooper planes were dipping into Georgetown Lake to douse the lightning-caused fire.

Smoke from fires burning in Washington and Oregon continued to smother western Montana on Monday. Air quality was rated "unhealthy" in the Flathead Valley, Libby, Missoula and Bozeman.

No improvements were expected until Wednesday, when a cooler and potentially rainy weather system was forecast to affect the region.

"An area of low pressure sags south into the Treasure State from Canada, spreading showers and thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon," the Montana DEQ stated in its smoke forecast Monday. "This will coincide with monsoonal moisture surging north out of the desert southwest."

Rain showers were likely for the Flathead Valley on Wednesday night through Thursday, with lows in the 40s and highs in the low 60s.

Fire behavior was expected to ease through Friday amid the favorable weather.

Stage 1 restrictions were put in place in Lake County and on the Flathead Reservation last week. Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, campfires are generally prohibited unless an exemption is in place. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sites in Lake County are exempt because campfires are only allowed in the designated steel fire grates provided at those locations. Outside of these designated rings, campfires are not allowed. Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites, or areas at least 3 feet in diameter that are cleared of all flammable materials. Cooking is permitted on liquid petroleum gas or propane stoves that can be turned off.