Even as evacuees were allowed to return to their homes Thursday night, officials managing the roughly 33,000-acre Meriwether blaze were concerned a fire weather watch set to go into effect today could spell explosive growth on the northeast edge of the fire.

"Expect that type of unexpected behavior," Helena National Forest Supervisor Kevin Riordan told incident team members. "(Friday's) a heads-up day."

A front may bring gusty, erratic winds over the fire late this afternoon, with sustained winds between 15 and 30 mph and potentially stronger gusts out of the west and southwest.

The blaze could reach portions of the eastern boundary of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness by about 7 p.m., Wolf Creek volunteer firefighter Sonny Stiger said.

Scores of evacuated homeowners now are allowed to return to the Nelson, Beaver Creek and American Bar areas, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Cheryl Liedle said.

Incident managers were satisfied with the strength of a fire line separating the homes from the blaze, prompting the move to let folks back in.

"I'm (feeling) all kinds of good, I got everybody back home," Liedle said.

She said homeowners should be prepared in case of another evacuation, and asked residents to drive carefully and restrict boating. Only homeowners and building contractors are allowed back in. The Holter Lake, Log Gulch and Departure Point campgrounds remain closed.

Helicopters have been working the area and two ground crews will make direct attacks near Sawtooth Mountain north of Nelson, where rocky terrain and light fuels on Thursday slowed the fire's progress and prompted officials to call off a burnout in the area.

The fire grew slowly Thursday as winds remained calm. A spot fire northeast of the Meriwether blaze grew to between 1,000 and 1,500 acres.

Another two crews have been building lines north of the fire, which also is burning in part of the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area. The only structure near the flames is a state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department cabin.

Nearly $2 million has been spent fighting the fire, sparked by a July 21 lightning storm. Officials expect weather will play a big role in putting out the blaze.

A new Type One national incident team out of the Southwest is set to take over management of the fire early Sunday morning. The replacement is part of a rotation of the 17 national teams. The new managers will focus solely on the Meriwether fire -- the team they're replacing was split between the Meriwether and Ahorn blazes.

Firefighter safety becomes even more of a priority during such a transition, Information Officer Mike Cole said, as the new management team is briefed on the locations of personnel.

More than 200 people, not including numerous volunteer firefighters, are assigned to the blaze. Heavy helicopters and bulldozers also are in use, and air tankers are standing by, he said.

Safety Officer Gerald Vickers said a firefighter broke a wrist in a fall a few days ago, though the man didn't realize the extent of the injury until paramedics examined him Thursday.

A community information meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Wolf Creek School, and Stage Two fire restrictions went into effect in the county today.