By Friday, as many as 1,500 are expected to join the fight. Additional planes, helicopt s and engines are also on the way in hopes of establishing a perimeter around the fire. While firefighters make progress on the eastern and southern edges of the Jasper Fire, it creeps out along the western flank. The fire now is estimated to be about 70,000 acres. Highway 16 is still closed from Pass Creek Road to four miles west of Jewel Cave.
Several areas are still under voluntary evacuation orders.
Also, Lightning Creek, Pass Creek and Custer Highlands subdivisions. A precautionary notification advisory is the area south of Highway 16, east of Pass Creek and West of Highway 385 south to Pringle. Hill city and Custer are not included in these areas. Today the Forest Service continues to dig dozer lines around the fire in attempts to contain it. The fire is still only about 5 percent contained and they do not have an estimate as to when it will be under control.