August 5, 2021 9:30 a.m. 

There has been slight growth in the Rough Patch Complex and the Jack Fire, burning on the Umpqua National Forest.

An update from Northwest Incident Management Team 13 said the Rough Patch Complex is now at 841 acres, up from 720. The Jack Fire grew less than 100 acres from 23,182 to 23,280.

The update said cooler weather and higher humidity should moderate fire activity, but fuels remain dry and will burn readily.

Brush and woody debris are being removed along the 3821 Road and the 650 Road down to a dozer line at Lemon Dip. Coordinated efforts to remove logging equipment and log decks are going seamlessly, according to John Spencer, operations section chief for Northwest 13.

On the west side of the Rough Patch Complex, firefighters caught a 2-acre spot fire within containment lines west and south of the 652 Road, with assistance from aerial waters drops as crews cut line. Dozer and handline work continued across Lemon Dip.

The update said firefighters spent much of Wednesday scouting the 200-acre Little Bend Creek Fire, which is in dense forest, making aerial observation difficult. To the east, crews were working to open access to the 100-acre 600 Road Fire, which is backing into Homestead Creek.

Containment lines around the Chilcoot II Fire are holding and crews are now mopping up.

On the southern end of the Jack Fire, dozer lines successfully checked a 100-acre fire on the 400 Road at Section 17, while crews finished cutting line and shifted to mop up around the 700 Road.

In the Twin Lakes area to the northeast, firefighters were assessing handlines for potential burnout operations if conditions allow.

The update said despite cooler weather moving in, fuels remain critically dry due to drought and many fires continue to grow. Winds out of the northwest will also push smoke from fires in southern Oregon and California to the south and east, away from the fire zone, which should improve air quality.