SANDPOINT — Crews spent Saturday working toward increased containment of the 3,208-acre Sunset Fire in southern Bonner County.
There are 678 firefighters assigned to the blaze, supported by a variety of resources including heavy equipment, Hotshot and Type 2 hand crews, and planes and helicopters. The fire was 11% contained as of Saturday morning, but that was expected to increase by the end of the day, according to Northern Rockies Team 5 officials leading the firefighting efforts.
Shortly after being reported around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, the fire quickly grew from under an acre to nearly 700 acres within a day. By the following day, it had more than doubled, and Friday, it expanded by more than 1,000 acres, reaching just over 2,700 acres.
Water scoopers and helicopters continue