The Gold Pan Fire – Burning in Frank Church Wilderness [AUDIO]

The small, 10-acre Gold Pan fire is burning in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, not far from the Montana border in Idaho.

Tod McKay, spokesman for the Bitterroot National Forest said on Friday, that the lightning-caused fire was discovered by aircraft as it flew over rugged and steep terrain.

"We've had some prett small fires in the forest, thanks to out attack crews that have been getting out and keeping them small," McKay said. "Our air patrol was flying over the Frank Church wilderness area this week and spotted smoke in a very remote area west of both the Selway river and the MacGruder Ranger Station."

"The fire is estimated to be only about 10 acres and its in an area surrounded by old fire scars, some old burns, so the growth will be limited," McKay said. "Because it's in wilderness, we simply manage those fires, so what we'll continue to do is monitor it daily via air patrol, and the Salmon Mountain lookout is just a few miles away, so we'll be able to monitor the fire from there, as well."

Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay