FRANK SESNO, CNN ANCHOR: Firefighters are not getting a break this holiday. They are working to contain blazes still burning across 11 states, mostly in the West. In Montana, rain, clouds and falling temperatures spell some relief for weary crews. CNN's Jim Hill joins us now with an update from Hamilton, Montana. Hello, Jim.</s>JIM HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Frank. Several hundred firefighters are back on the lines today, near Hamilton, Montana. Battling the two major fires that continue to burn in this area. However, both of those fires, these so-called Skalkaho Complex and the Blodgett Complex, are now 50 percent contained. And Blodgett fires are expected to be fully contained on September 10th. That is a good progress report, when you consider that both of these fires have been burning now since late July. They are part of the fires that have charred 300,000 acres in southwestern Montana. Also, there is some rehabilitative work being done now, receding and erosion control. These are important aspects if firefighting to protect the assets once the fires are put out. Now these fires are still only 50 percent contained. That means there is still the chance that if the weather turns hot and dry once again, these fires can flair up and go on a rampage, just as they were doing about two or three weeks ago. But firefighters are hopeful this weather will hold. They will continue to contain those lines. Later on today, a big thank you for firefighters from the people of Hamilton, Montana. Among the people visiting here will be the head forester for the U.S., and he will address the people, and also perhaps answer some criticism that the policy of putting out wildfires has allowed too much underbrush to accumulate, thereby making fires even worse once they breakout. So it should be an interesting day for forestry officials here in Hamilton. I am Jim Hill, CNN, reporting from Hamilton, Montana.
Western Wildfires: Rain, Clouds and Falling Temperatures Spell Some Relief for Montana Crews