A forest fire has burned a total of 698 acres near Jack Frost Ski Area in Kidder Township.

However, this morning, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Incident Management Team, along with the Weiser Forest District staff, reported that significant progress has been made with management of the Pipeline One wildfire incident.On Tuesday, wildland fire crews finished constructing a secure fireline around the fire, which included the burning of some unburned fuels near the perimeter.Precipitation occurred in that area early this morning, and was expected to continue throughout most of the day.Firefighting personnel were expected to conclude operations on the incident today, and the Incident Management Team will be transitioning management of the incident to the local Weiser Forest District staff later today.The district staff will continue to monitor this incident.The overnight rain helped somewhat, according to Cecile Stelter, public information officer for DCNR Bureau of Forestry Incident Management Team."We were very fortunate that the weather did cooperate yesterday," Stelter said. "The humidity actually increased throughout the day, we received precipitation; all of that has helped with the suppression efforts of the fire."Yesterday, they were also able to do burn out to strengthen the control lines so that the fire does not go beyond that," Stelter added, noting that "the concentration was on getting a very secure perimeter of the fire, including burning some of those fuels close to the edge that did not burn during the fire."With the precipitation so far and expected today, the team that was brought in will actually be transitioning later today, the resources from out of the area will be returning back to their home forest district later on today, and the local Weiser Forest District staff will be continuing to monitor this incident and any other incidents that may be coming up."Over the past few days, fire crews from various departments throughout the region battled the wildfire, which was first reported around noon on Sunday in the area between the Francis E. Walter dam and Jack Frost Ski Area.The Bureau of Forestry personnel responded to the fire and made very good suppression efforts until wind increases and gusts caused increased fire behavior, and the fire spread Monday afternoonOn Tuesday, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Incident Management Team was called in to assist the Weiser Forest District with management of the Pipeline 1 wildfire.Aircraft support was also provided by helicopter with water bucket from Penn Forest and fixed wing water tankers from the tanker base, located in Hazleton.On Tuesday, there were 61 personnel assigned to the fire.The Bureau of Forestry would like to thank the local volunteer fire departments, Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Nature Conservancy, the Jack Frost Resort staff and all the local residents who provided support during this incident.The Bureau of Forestry still advises all residents to be very careful with any outdoor burning. The spring season is the time when the greatest numbers of wildfires occur in Pennsylvania, and 98 percent of wildfires are caused by people.Even after a rain event, it can only take a few days for the forest to dry out and increase the potential for wildfires. The DCNR reminds people to be careful and responsible during all their outdoor forest activities.