Bear Creek fire still 70% contained

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-UPDATE: The Bear Creek fire was mapped at 11,614 acres overnight and remains at 70% contained.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest reports 262 fire personnel are on the scene and some resources are expected to be demobilized over the next few days.

About .08” of precipitation fell at Lemhi Pass overnight and the forecast calls for clouds, a 20% chance of rain Thursday, and a chance of thunderstorms.

Fire behavior is expected to be quiet, with some isolated torching and smoldering.  

Crews are working with private landowners to continue with rehabilitation of many areas of constructed fireline.

There was not a lot of change on the Bear Creek fire line on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in the last 24 hours.

The fire, 29 miles east of Salmon in the Lemhi Pass area, was mapped at 11,590 acres and is 70% contained.

316 people are working on the fire, which crossed over a fireline on the northwest corner Tuesday, but was quickly cleaned up by a helicopter.

Winds gusted to 40 miles per hour, but did not cause problems for ground crews. Rainfall was not substantial enough to make much difference on the fire. Unstable conditions were forecast again on Wednesday.