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HOPE — While the Trestle Creek Complex fires have spread to within a half-mile of homes in the area, crews are working to open nearby roads to help protect the structures.

Crews are using equipment to open up Road 1082 between the main fire and private residences in Trestle Creek, according to Jess Harvey, public information officer trainee for the Nevada Type 3 Incident Management Team 3 in charge of operations.

In addition to Road 1082, Harvey said crews will begin opening the Trout Creek Road system on the west side of Trestle Ridge to gain access to the fire's west side of the fire. Crews are also scouting for opportunities to open old road systems to create access areas as well as direct and indirect lines for crews to fight the fires, he said.

Steep, inaccessible terrain on sections of the fire has forced crews to seek out indirect options with the northeast side of the fire in more of a confine strategy, Harvey said in an update on the fire.

"Resources are planning to open up old roads to create access routes and contingency lines," he said.

In coordination with the Sam Owen Fire Department, crews continue to implement a structure protection plan for homes in the Trestle Creek area. A combination of pumps, hose, and sprinkler systems have been deployed to protect private residences, Harvey said.

The fire, located about 7 miles north of Hope, has burned 3,586 acres since it was sparked by a July 7 lightning storm. All fires in the complex, with the exception of Trestle 6 had been contained until a windstorm last week pushed the fire around the others, nullifying previous containment.

Fire and contingency lines still exist on the complex, however, fire crews said containment will only increase as fire reaches and holds at these lines. Firefighters continue to assess opportunities for direct and indirect suppression and line construction.

Trestle Creek Road has been closed at Highway 200 and Lightning Creek Road remains closed north of Clark Fork. Residents are asked to stay out of these areas and to not go past any closure barriers.

While there are no current evacuations in the vicinity of the Trestle Creek Complex fires, several areas are set to "ready" status. They include Rapid Lightning (from Wellington North), Wellington, Vandyke, Trapper Creek, Trapper Creek Spur, Stove, Box Canyon, High, and Rising Hawk Ridge roads, Dragon Drive, Moon Fire Road, Hidden Forest Way, Stellar Drive, Legacy Lane, Ice Creek Forest Lane, Early Breakfast Creek Road, Barbary Trail, Dads Garden Lane, Snowshoe Ridge Road, Laid Back Drive, and Cross Mountain, Holly Berry, Flume Creek, Little Flume Creek, Dunn Creek, and Out of the Woods roads.

Residents of residents of Slippery Slope Trail and Saddler Creek Road are at "set" status for pre-evacuation.

Higher winds and cooler temperatures over the next 24 to 48 hours is expected to lighten fire activity, but continued torching, spotting, backing and flanking are expected on portions of the fire. In addition, the fire will continue creeping toward Trestle Creek and the spot fires will see continued backing to the west, they said on InciWeb, an interagency fire tracking website.

Across the county on the Pioneer Fire, crews worked Friday to ensure the fire was inactive with no heat prior to demobilizing and turning management of the fire back to local fire crews.

The fire, which has burned 355 acres, is 100% contained.

In other major fires in the region:

Stateline Complex

The Stateline Complex consists of numerous fires burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the two largest being the Dolly Creek and Tumbledown fires. The Tumbledown Fire has burned 9,002 acres and the Dolly Creek Fire has burned 825 acres. Both are considered 0% contained.

Firefighters continue scouting potential containment lines to safely construct fire line from Highway 50 east to the Quartz Road. On the north flank of the Tumbledown Fire, two heavy equipment task forces are working toward one another from the Quartz and Bruin roads to construct line and to contain a spot fire south of Blackjack Peak.

Friday, on the west flank of the Tumbledown Fire, crews contained two small spot fires on industrial timber and Forest Service lands. Heavy equipment is being used to construct line in the Nugget Creek drainage while hand crews are working on the steeper slopes. Where possible, crews are going direct, digging handline on the steeper slopes near the fire’s edge.

Character Complex

The Character Complex — comprised of the Deceitful and Prichard fires — has burned 7,516 acres and is 30% contained. Of the two, the Deceitful Fire has burned 6,174 acres and is 0% contained while the Prichard Fire has burned 1,342 acres and is 75% contained.

South Yaak Fire

Detected on July 13, the South Yaak Fire has burned 10,153 acres and is 10% contained. Minimal to moderate fire behavior was observed with backing, flanking, and slow upslope spread over much of the fire area. Isolated torching and short range spotting did occur in some areas.

The fire presents a challenge due to steep terrain, difficult access, and critically dry vegetation. It is likely to burn until significant moisture covers the fire area.

Burnt Peak Fire

Located 9 miles southwest of Troy, the fire is 46% contained and has burned 3,495 acres.

Active burning, short crown runs, group and isolated torching, and short-range spotting are occurring and the fire continues to progress east. Equipment continues to improve access to the fire. And ground resources are constructing direct line where possible. Airtankers and retardant may be used as needed to support crews working on the ground and to protect values at risk.

For information on fire restriction, the Ready, Set, Go evacuation program, Idaho Firewise and more, go online to idahofireinfo.com .