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NEAR CORVALLIS- Today, Fire officials reported that the Dominic Point Fire is 40 percent contained.

Cooler weather and rain the last two days have allowed crews to make even more progress on the fire.

This afternoon, warm temperatures and dry conditions increased fire activity and a helicopter was called in to perform water drops.

The weather forecast will remain warm and dry till Saturday, making it more likely to create further fire behavior.

Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter, says that, "I'm cautiously optimistic about the progress on the fire".

Even though the Dominic Point fire camp on Willow Creek Road recorded a ½ inch of rain on Tuesday, the Willow Mountain Lookout recorded less than a ¼ " and by mid-afternoon, trees within the fire parameter were starting to actively burn.

Firefighters have worked aggressively since the Dominic Point fire started on July 25th and fire officials predict that the line should be completed on the west and south sides of the fire by late Wednesday.

Firefighters plan to start building line on the north side of the fire, starting from the northwest and northeast edges and work toward the middle of the fire.

Ritter says that "the north side of the fire is hazardous. There are no roads and the only escape and safety routes would be back into the blackened fire area. There isn't one piece of ground worth getting someone injured or killed. The somewhat cooler temperatures and higher humidity gives us the window we need to build line on the north side, however we will take a look at that every day."

The blaze has scorched 894 acres and is 10% contained. There are 138 personnel assigned to the fire and it's cost $481,600 to fight.

NEAR CORVALLIS - Fire officials are ordering in an additional 40 firefighters, including the Type I Bitterroot "hotshots", to help out on the 900 acre Dominic Point Fire.

The Bitterroot crew will be joined by the 20-person Great Northern, Type II crew, from Polson, and both crews are scheduled to arrive and be on the fire lines Wednesday afternoon.

The additional resources will join nearly 140 firefighters who have been battling the blaze since Sunday, including four elite "hotshot" crews from Idaho, Utah, and Montana.

There are also five engines and two water tenders from local rural fire departments as well as three helicopters performing water drops, and single engine air tankers.

Information Officer Tod McKay say Wednesday's objectives are "to provide for firefighter and public safety, keep the fire east of road 969, contain the fire that has moved south of Willow Mountain Road and protect Willow Mountain Lookout".

McKay added that crews "made great progress in establishing fireline along the west and south flanks in an effort to completely circle the fire" on Tuesday.

Officials also say the next 48-hours are critical to the battle.

"We have a good opportunity in the next two days to get line around this fire and get it corralled before the weather changes on Friday," said Bret Lewis, Incident Commander, Dominic Point Fire.

Tuesday afternoon's storm dumped approximately 0.3 inches over the area helping to slow the spread of the fire.

There is a chance of more thunderstorms today along with possible gusty winds and more lightning, which could drive fire behavior and spark more blazes McKay cautioned.

The blaze is burning 12 miles northeast of Hamilton and two miles west of Willow Mountain Lookout.It was spotted by a fire lookout on Sunday afternoon and quickly grew.