Officials on Friday determined the Deer Creek Fire north of Happy's Inn was human-caused, but details of how it ignited remain under investigation.

The 1,099-acre blaze south of the Pleasant Valley Fisher River was nearly fully contained Monday as fire crews continued to mop up the perimeter and douse interior hot spots. About 159 firefighters remained on the incident, now under the command of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The blaze was first reported Aug. 20 and started in an active timber sale on land owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. 

Sophia Golden, public information officer for the fire, said the blaze was confined to the timber company's land. Golden said officials were still working to determine exactly how the fire ignited but confirmed it was not naturally caused.

While dozens of structures were considered threatened, none were destroyed. The total cost to fight the fire approached $4 million as of Sunday.

Golden said crews will shift to rehabilitation work as containment lines are secured.

FIREFIGHTERS FULLY contained the Cherry Peak Fire southeast of Thompson Falls on Aug. 28, with a final size of 173 acres.

Transfer of command from the local Type 3 Incident Management Organization to a local Type 4 incident commander took place last week, and the two Interagency Hotshot crews assigned to the fire were sent to other fires. The two hand crews were expected to hike out over the weekend once work was complete.

Operations over the weekend focused on backhauling hose, pumps and other gear used during suppression efforts. Firefighters will complete suppression repair work, returning areas where line was constructed to a more natural state where possible.

People may see smoke over the next several days as vegetation is consumed within the fire's interior. The road closure for Forest Service Road 420 south of the junction with Forest Service Road 7600 was expected to be lifted.

ON THE Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Camp Creek Fire reached 9,613 acres and was 0% contained Monday.

The lightning-started fire, 40 miles west of Augusta along Danaher Creek, was first spotted by the Jumbo Lookout on Aug. 21. It burned more than 6,500 acres in just two days. A number of trail closures remain in place because of the fire.

To the north, the Silvertip Fire was 15% contained Monday at 7,247 acres. Natural features such as rock and cliffs have prevented the fire from spreading south.

A MAJOR shift in weather is predicted by the middle of the workweek. Widespread rain showers are likely across western Montana beginning Wednesday. Rainfall rates of up to a half-inch an hour are possible in some areas.

Temperatures will run below seasonal norms, with a low-pressure system settling over the entire Pacific Northwest. The Flathead Valley could see highs top off in the 60s and lows in the 40s.