July 24, 2024 11:10 a.m.

The Homestead Complex, burning in the Umpqua National Forest, has seven fires totaling a combined 910 acres as of mid-day Wednesday.

A Forest Service update said about 230 people are assigned to the complex with more scheduled to arrive.

The Horse Heaven Creek Fire, at 258 acres, was the most active fire in the complex Tuesday. Crews were working on both direct and indirect containment lines when the fire activity intensified, and they switched to indirect tactics. A helicopter attempted to assist firefighters with water drops but was unable to fly into the area due to thick smoke.

Crews and heavy equipment operators assigned to the No Man Fire, which is 267 acres north of Chilcoot Mountain, are using roads in the area to begin building containment line around the fire. The steep, rugged terrain means it is unlikely that firefighters will be working on the ground close to the fire’s edge. Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 continues to work with cooperators west of the fire to coordinate the construction of indirect control lines.

Firefighters assigned to the Reynolds Butte Fire, at 84 acres, are building direct containment lines in areas that have been identified as having the greatest likelihood for success. Work is also being done to further secure and improve containment line and hoselays around Lost Bucket Fire, which is 35 acres. The 110-acre Bullpup Fire and the 38-acre Fuller Lake Fire are unstaffed until additional resources become available.

Get more information on the Homestead Complex on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HomesteadComplexFireInfo