August 30, 2023 11:05 a.m.

Cooler temperatures and elevated relative humidity have aided firefighters on the Chilcoot and Ridge fires burning in the Umpqua National Forest.

Both are zero percent contained.

The inversion layer lifted earlier, allowing aircraft to support the Chilcoot Fire for a good portion of the day. Additional equipment and personnel have arrived with more on order. The additional crews will be divided into day and night shifts, increasing the 24-hour suppression activities.

At the Chilcoot Fire, handline construction was completed along with strengthening of the already established lines around the spot fires on the northeast side. Firefighters, working closely with forest Resource Advisors, have secured line around the Chilcoot Repeater site as well as other cultural and natural resources.

On the Ridge Fire, crews worked to hold and strengthen containment lines along the 3810 Road on the south side of the fire. Steep, rugged terrain continues to challenge personnel working on the northwest side. However, firefighters took advantage of opportunities to limit the fire’s spread north of Fuller Lake. Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics continue to be used while working in the Boulder Creek Wilderness.

A community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Glide Revitalization Center on Wild Thyme Lane in Glide. Staff will share information about both fires. It will also be available via a Facebook Live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550481586772

Seven other fires are burning on the UNF. More information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua