The Marsh Creek fire 12 miles southeast of Lincoln is now at 95 acres, fire officials said Saturday.

The Marsh Creek fire southeast of Lincoln as seen on Sept. 5.

Crews continue to remove hazardous fuels between the fire and private property in the Canyon Creek community, which is about 3 miles east of the fire, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest officials said.

The fire, reported at 6:44 p.m. Aug. 27, is being fueled by lodgepole pine, live and beetle-killed, dead and down trees throughout the area. Its cause has not been determined and it is 0% contained. The are 45 people, two Type 2 Crews, Dozer, Masticator assigned to the blaze. Fire officials said at mtfireinfo.org that $90,000 has been spent to fight the blaze so far.

So far crews have been successful removing fuels in the North Fork of the Prickly Pear drainage and McQuithy Gulch. Also, crews have begun fuels work in the South Fork of Poorman drainage about 3 miles northeast of the fire, officials said on inciweb.wildfire.gov.

As this work begins, crews and equipment remain staged in North and South Fork of Prickly Pear Road as well as McQuithy Gulch. Other areas further from the fire have been identified for treatment, if needed, based on fire activity, include the South Fork of the Prickly Pear drainage and Marsh Creek road, officials said.

The forest service said the fire is burning in remote, rugged terrain with little to no access for firefighting resources.

These areas pose challenges in responding to potential medical emergencies, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of firefighters and other responders. Crews are focused on the nearest identified critical value at risk, homes closest to the fire, primarily on the northeast, eastern and southeastern sides, and will adjust tactics if the fire behavior increases, forest officials said.

The fire was expected to be active this afternoon based on predicted weather—temperatures in the low 80s, relative humidity levels in the mid-teens and winds at about 10 mph — smoke will be visible.

In terms of trails, a closure order is in effect for:

• Trail #466 Nevada Creek Trail is closed from the Nevada Creek Trailhead to the Continental Dive Trail (CDT)

• Trail #440 CDT is closed from Meyer's Hill Trailhead to Stemple Pass Trailhead

• Trail #467 Helmville/Gould Trail is closed from the CDT to the Prickly/Nevada Trail

• Trail #487 Prickly/Nevada Trail is closed from Nevada Creek Trail to the Helmville/Gould Trail

There are 64 fires now burning in Montana, 70 this week and 1,895 so far this year, mtfireinfo.org said.