Fire activity on the Cinnabar Fire greatly increased yesterday afternoon and late into the evening and is now estimated to be 2,000 acres in size. Due to smoke and low visibility, air assessments of the fire did not occur until late yesterday evening and this morning. Aerial assessments indicate substantial fire growth has occurred to the north, northeast, and southeast away from the Bitterroot Divide and back into the Welcome Creek Wilderness. The fire perimeter is now approximately 3 miles west of the bottom of Rock Creek. The fire is still burning within the Welcome Creek Wilderness boundary, on the Lolo National Forest in Granite County.
Active fire behavior is attributed to heavy, dead and downed fuels from previous burned areas and beetle-kill; dry and warm conditions; and terrain-driven fire activity. The fire is making short runs up steep slopes, group torching, and backing downslope. No structures or infrastructure are threatened at this time.
Due to complexity of the incident and location, a Type 2 Incident Command Team has been ordered for the fire and is expected to arrive tomorrow.
Yesterday’s Actions: Crews continued indirect suppression tactics and accomplished hose lay along the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313. Prep work of the trail and the Bitterroot Divide Road #2129 continued by removing fuel from the edges of the trail and road to strengthen the fire lines. Indirect suppression work is occurring outside of the Wilderness boundary. Helicopters did not conduct bucket drops due to visibility and ineffectiveness.
Today’s Planned Actions: Crews will continue to strengthen and remove fuel along the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 and Bitterroot Divide Road #2129 north toward its junction with Eightmile Saddle.
Closures: The emergency closure area is as follows for National Forest System lands on the Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, and Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest:
The entire Welcome Creek Wilderness, including all interior trails, is closed to public entry; all National Forest System lands south of the Welcome Mountain Road #4249 and
Solomon Ridge Trail #142; all National Forest System lands west of Rock Creek beginning above high water mark on the western bank of Rock Creek; all National Forest lands north of the Wahlquist Ridge Trail #233, including the trailhead, to its intersection with the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313; and all National Forest System lands to the east of the Bitterroot Divide Road #2129 and the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 at its intersection with Cinnamon Bear Saddle.
The Bitterroot Divide Road #2129 and the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 are closed north of Ambrose Saddle. Everything south of Ambrose Saddle and Wahlquist Ridge Trail #233 remains open.
For a complete list of trail and road closures visit Inciweb.
Remaining Open:
Rock Creek, Missoula Ranger District (Granite/Missoula Counties): The Rock Creek Road #102 corridor and recreation access remains open. The Welcome Creek bridge remains open for fishing access only, below the high-water mark on the west bank of Rock Creek. All fishing access sites and campgrounds in Rock Creek remain open.