The Magpie Rock Fire is now burning an estimated 3,100 acres 8 miles west of Dixon, according to Sanders County Wildland Fire Information. That’s up from 2,500 acres reported by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire Thursday morning.
According to officials, 287 firefighters are battling the blaze in steep, rocky terrain.
“(They’re) trying to watch out for rolling debris, rocks, logs that have broken loose,” Magpie Rock Fire information officer C.T. Camel said.
Recent hot, dry weather and wind have increased fire activity and added another challenge to fighting the blaze.
“Everything is drying out,” Camel said of fuels in the surrounding area. “We haven’t had very good recoveries at night.”
Firefighters first arrived at the Magpie Rock Fire on Monday. Since then, Camel said they’ve been building containment line. They also completed a backburn operation near Highway 200 and Revais Creek.