August Complex:  1,032,264 acres Containment: 91 percent

The majority of the August Complex’s perimeter is contained, according to this morning’s update, with the lines are secure and mopped up and no “significant heat sources” around the edge.

A fire weather watch goes into effect for the fire area and much of the region, beginning this evening and ending Friday morning.
“In some cases, this buffer zone extends as much as 300-feet into the fire area,” the update states. “The fire is contained inside the perimeter and does not have adequate fuel in the buffer zone to escape containment.”

There are still a “few small areas” outside of fire lines, including Kettenpom and surrounding vicinity, which has “interior pockets of unburned fuels continue to be consumed.” According to the update, crews are making progress in the area.

To the north, near Coffee Pot Road, firefighters were able to strengthen the line there with a burning operation. Air operations dropped more than 8,000 gallons of fire retardant near Irish Mountain, where the fire has not spread in the last several day. Similarly, minimal activity has been reported around Beegen Thumb.

Crews are working with residents of the Ruth Lake area on identifying and removing hazardous trees and patrols are ongoing to look out for possible hidden hot spots.

Caltrans is also working on State Route 36 to find and remove trees that could prove dangerous. A closure on the roadway remains in place from Southfork Summit Mountain east to Highway 3. At 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily, traffic is being escorted through the closure but Caltrans is asking people to take alternative routes.