Crews are making progress on the Austin Fire after more than two inches of rain helped slow fire activity.  Dry weather returned yesterday, allowing muddy roads and soils to begin drying out. Firefighters and equipment operators continued building and improving containment lines around the fire.  An infrared flight found a small increase in acreage, but fire managers say that growth occurred before the rainfall.  Crews are also removing fuels along control lines, using hand crews and heavy equipment to chip smaller trees and branches and move larger logs away from work areas.  Near Forest Roads 5731 and 6310, crews are connecting existing roads and dozer lines to create a continuous, secure fireline around the fire.  The Austin Fire is currently 12,722 acres and 22 percent contained.