WALLACE — Wildland fire crews continue to battle the Dudley Fire, which grew to nearly 600 acres over the weekend and is now 14% contained. 

Firefighters spent Sunday working to keep the blaze from moving southwest, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials are also reviewing nearby communities, including Carbon Center to the north, to ensure protective measures are in place. 

"Firefighters held the fire on the southwest flank along the powerline corridor and portions of Forest Road 429," the release said. "Crews will continue constructing handlines and dozer lines, improving roads, and building fuel breaks. Aerial resources will support ground operations and limit fire spread. A structure protection group is assessing structures and deploying water tanks, pumps, hose lays, and sprinklers in Carbon Center." 

Crews have also been conducting strategic burns in areas where unburned fuel remains. Fire officials said the tactic removes a level of unpredictability from the fire and helps crews establish perimeters around the affected area. 

More than 200 personnel are assigned to the fire under the command of a Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Jerrod Scheffelmaier. Resources include eight fire engines, seven 20-person hand crews, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and a masticator. 

A Type 3 Incident Management Team is a midlevel incident command team used to manage incidents that are too complex for local initial-response resources but do not require a national-level Type 1 or Type 2 team. Type 3 teams are commonly used for wildfires, floods, hurricanes, major storms, search-and-rescue operations, public health emergencies and other all-hazard incidents. 

While the fire grew over the weekend, officials said weather conditions later this week could help firefighters gain ground. 

Forecasters are predicting mild but dry conditions Monday, followed by the potential for isolated thunderstorms Tuesday evening. Wetter-than-normal conditions are then expected through the remainder of the week. The moisture could help slow the fire's progress and allow crews to make significant gains in containment. 

Fire suppression efforts were briefly hampered over the weekend when a drone was reported flying over the fire area, forcing firefighting aircraft to suspend operations during a critical period. 

The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office released a statement reminding the public that flying a drone in restricted airspace can result in civil and criminal penalties from the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The Dudley Fire began Wednesday after a lightning strike. It is burning about 5 miles north of Wallace, east of Dobson Pass. 

There are currently no evacuation orders, but residents in the Blackcloud area of Nine-Mile Canyon remain in READY status. Dobson Pass remains closed to travel. 

The Forest Service will continue providing daily updates through its social media channels and websites. The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office will also continue monitoring the fire and providing updates as conditions change. 

Residents seeking up-to-the-minute information can contact the U.S. Forest Service Wildfire Info Hotline at 208-557-8813.