Containment of the Cold Springs Fire has increased to 98 percent as of Thursday morning, fire officials announced.

Despite the gain, up from 90 percent Wednesday, fire officials still estimate full containment of the blaze that has blackened more than 7,980 acres won’t be until Aug. 1.

Firefighters are continuing to strengthen fire lines by widening them up to 500 feet and extinguishing smoldering slash piles left by past harvests of bug-killed timber.