August 27, 2021 3:25 a.m.

Firefighters continue to make good progress on the Skyline Ridge Complex, which is now 97 percent contained.

Kyle Reed of the Douglas Forest Protective Association said 86 personnel remain assigned to the incident. Reed said their work is focused on patrolling control lines, mopping up hot spots, backhauling the supplies and equipment that are no longer needed on the fire lines, and finalizing fire suppression repair projects in and around the 19 fires that make up the complex

Reed said foresters from both private industrial landowners and the Bureau of Land Management are also working in the fire area, assessing damages to their lands. He said resources that are no longer needed on the incident are either being reassigned to other fires in the region, or returning to their home units for some rest. Reed said by Saturday, fire officials with the Skyline Ridge Complex anticipate that 40 personnel will be needed on this incident to patrol the fires.

Smoke from the interior portions of the Poole Creek Fire may be visible until the heavy fall rains return to the area. Reed said the smoke is being produced by smoldering materials and small pockets of previously unburned fuels within the interior area of the fire. He said these smokes are being monitored by fire crews but pose little to no threat to containment fires.