(NECN/NBC News: Jay Gray) - For the first time in almost two weeks, there seems to be a cautious sense of optimism along the front lines of a wildfire in Idaho.
Fire Information Officer Jake Brollier said, "We're looking a lot better today than we were a couple of days ago."
Crews have been able to establish containment lines in key areas and now feel like they are starting to get the upper hand on the blaze.
Brollier said, "Before any work we were doing was being out-run by the fires so we were actually loosing containment everyday but now we'll be able to see some good gains."
As fire fighters gain ground, about 800 of the more than 2,000 residents initially evacuated, have been allowed to go home..
But more than 7,000 houses are still in jeopardy.
Homeowner Janet Jarvis said, "Definitely in limbo. It’s not going to be resolved for at least a week it's just the fires are too unpredictable."
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Teams continue their effort to protect those communities along the edge of the blaze, dousing the dried out grass and sage brush that might fuel the fire and digging out to try and block its' path.
Brollier said, "There's still a lot of work to be done. We're not out of danger yet."
That danger is why their battle against the unyielding and unpredictable blaze continues around the clock.
