Fire information officer Gary Hoshide says firefighters have anchored the Bear Gulch fire on the southern corner, and will try to flank the fire on its east and west sides. Hoshide says ground crews will dig fire lines while two helicopters continue to drop water on the flames. He says just over 200 people are now working on the fire.

A specialized incident management team took command of fire operations at 6 a.m. Wednesday. The blaze, burning in heavy timber, was first reported shortly before 2 p.m. Monday and grew from 30 acres to more than 600 acres in less than four hours.