Bear Creek fire now 70% contained

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-UPDATE--Tuesday: The Bear Creek Fire was mapped at 11,236 acres Tuesday morning.   It is now 70% contained. 

There are still 405 firefighting personnel assigned to the fire>

Yesterday, they completed burnout operations and, using helicopter bucket drops, successfully put out several spot fires of up to 5 acres in the area.  The burn-line was extended south along the Continental Divide.

There is a 25% chance of rain and 30% chance of lightning in the fire area today.

Monday:
The Bear Creek fire, started by lightning on August 11, is now estimated at 10,706 acres.  The fire, on Lemhi Pass, about 29 miles east of Salmon, was 60% contained Sunday night.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has assigned seven helicopters, six Type 2 IA crews, two Type 1 crews, 13 engines and a total of 419 personnel to the fire.

Forecasters call for increasing cloud cover with the potential for rain showers over the fire area, but do believe the chance of “wetting” rain is very low.  The storms will bring erratic, gusty winds.  

Crews planned to work Monday on holding fire lines on the northwest corner, where they completed burnout operations Sunday. Heavy fuels will continue to burn within that area, but crews hope the weather will lower fire activity.