The Knowles Fire near Paradise in Sanders County expanded to more than 1,800 acres by Thursday morning.

The wildfire is burning in steep, rocky terrain in the Knowles Creek drainage and the ridges above Knowles Creek, officials said in an Aug. 21 update. Crews were working to build direct and secondary indirect firelines to prevent it from reaching homes and timberland as well as block it from spreading along the Montana 200 corridor.

The blaze, which began Aug. 17, was listed as 0% contained as of Thursday afternoon. The Sanders County Sheriff's Office has issued a pre-evacuation notice to McLaughlin area residents.

More than 200 people are working the fire, including two hotshot crews and five hand crews. Four engines are on scene, joined by multiple pieces of heavy equipment, officia

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