Swan fire surpasses thousand-acre mark

Following several days of warm, dry weather conditions, the South Fork Lost Creek fire has more than doubled in size since last week.

Now estimated at approximately 1,215 acres, the fire — which is located about seven miles southeast of Swan Lake — is expected to continue burning for several more weeks, according to fire information officer Pat Cross.

“It will continue to burn probably until sometime in October, whenever we get some real rain or substantial snow on it,” Cross said.

The fire — which is currently 35 percent contained — continues to burn in rough, extremely steep terrain near Thunderbolt Mountain.

Crews executed a burnout operation Friday at the southwest corner of the fire. The goal of the operation was to prevent the fire from spreading to the south and west by strengthening the existing fire line.

According to information provided by fire officials, the burnout was successful in removing unburned fuels above the South Fork Lost Creek Road and the Lost Creek Trail.

The operation was expected to scale back Tuesday from 106 personnel to about 40. The smaller crew will continue to monitor the fire to ensure that it does not move south or west.

Due to dangerous rocks and other rolling material from the burned area, the South Fork Lost Creek Road No. 680 is expected to remain closed to public travel until spring 2012.

Several additional roads and trails have been closed until further notice. For a complete list, visit www.inciweb.org and choose “South Fork Lost Creek” from the drop-down menu in the top right corner.