Skyline Ridge Complex Evening Update Saturday, Aug 7
5:04 AM · Aug 8, 2021Firefighters are making good progress on controlling many of the fires included in the Skyline Ridge Complex. Six of the smallest fires are now in patrol status, with no obvious heat or visible smoke near the fires' edges. Seven more fires, including Ike Butte, McGinnis, Packard Creek, and Turkey Creek, are staying within their lines, but have some heat near the edges. Firefighters are mopping up remaining hot areas near the fire perimeters. Only three fires within the Complex continue to grow. Sweat Creek and O'Shea fires have burning chunks of wood rolling down the steep slopes, past the lines. Fire personnel are watching for these roll-outs and are attacking them quickly. Lines are constructed around these roll-outs and these new pockets of heat are cooled as quickly as possible to avoid further spread. Other hot areas near the edges of the fires are also being extinguished. The Poole Creek Fire continues to grow. The southeast edge of the fire is burning actively, pushing past sections of fire line. Firefighters are re-establishing the lines and concentrating on stopping this part of the fire from spreading further to the south and east. Some resources were shifted from the northern part of the fire to help with holding this part of the line. On the southwest edge of the fire, last night's burnout operations were successful and helped secure the line. Remaining heat is being mopped up. To the north of Poole Creek Fire, heavy equipment made great progress at improving the existing roads and cutting lines down the ridges toward the South Umpqua River. Hand crews are cleaning up more of the vegetation and will be conducting burnout operations to secure the lines as the fire progresses north down the drainages. Fire managers plan to stop the fire near the bottom of the slopes, where defendable fire lines can be built and held. There will be a virtual public meeting Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook Live.