More than 100 firefighting personnel were battling a lightning-sparked blaze about 7 miles southeast of Thompson Falls in Lolo National Forest.

Smoke was first spotted rising above Cherry Peak just before 2 p.m. on Aug. 18. An initial aerial response mapped the fire at about 10 acres, but dense vegetation and warm conditions spurred rapid growth along its northeastern perimeter. By 7 a.m. Aug. 19, the fire had surged to 130 acres and remained zero percent contained. 

As of Monday, Aug. 24, the fire was 44% contained at 200 acres. Crews had completed line construction around the entire fire perimeter and were completing mop-up operations.

Helicopters and air tankers dropped water and fire retardant along the fire line as part of the initial response, but the remote location, rugged terrain and heightened fire activity precluded more direct suppression efforts. 

More subdued fire activity last week provided a window for smoke jumpers to parachute into the area. Ground crews, meanwhile, continued to bushwack a path to the blaze from Cherry Peak Road. 

The fire was not threatening any buildings or infrastructure. Officials were hopeful that the nearby 2007 Cherry Creek Fire burn scar will serve as a natural buffer against blaze’s continued growth. 

The Deer Creek Fire 18 miles west of Marion was estimated at 963 acres on Monday, Aug. 24. About 170 firefighters were working to build fire line on the uncontained blaze.

There were no evacuations issued, but people were asked to avoid the Pleasant Valley area.

Regional crews took over command of the Skillet Fire burning about 15 miles west of Olney in Flathead National Forest. A complex incident management team had assumed management of the blaze shortly after it was detected on July 29. 

As of Aug. 19, the fire was estimated at 3,364 acres and 82% containment. More than 200 personnel remained on-site to help with mop-up operations, though officials said that equipment and crews would likely be re-assigned to higher priority incidents in the coming days. 

Suppression efforts on the Skillet Fire currently total $20.9 million. 

The Silvertip Fire burning deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness has reached 6,681 acres. A stretch of limestone rocks and cliffs has hemmed the blaze's southern flank, preventing further growth in that direction. Officials described fire activity along the rest of the perimeter as minimal, with some smoldering and creeping in areas of dense vegetation. 

Flathead National Forest updated public closures in the areas surrounding the Skillet and Silvertip fire on Aug. 13. A full description of closed roads and trails can be found online at fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/alerts.

    Smoke rises lower on the slope as fire moves downhill past a burned area of the Cherry Peak Fire in Sanders County on Aug. 21. (Brett Dione photo)
  

    A helicopter drops water over the Cherry Peak Fire, supporting firefighters working in steep, smoky terrain on the Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District. (Inciweb photo)
  

    Multiple piles of gear and supplies are secured in nets, ready to be transported by helicopter into the Cherry Peak Fire on Aug. 20. (Zachary Long photo)