The area, road and trail closures for the Cinnabar Fire have been lifted; except for the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313. The Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 will remain closed from milepost 0.0 starting at the Eightmile Saddle, to milepost 6.59 ending at Cinnabar Saddle. Please see below for a map of the current closure. Due to ongoing repair efforts, the trail will remain closed until further notice.

If visiting the fire area, please be aware of your surroundings. Pay close attention to weakened trees and snags left behind by fire activity and keep your distance from any spots that may be smoldering. Repair work will continue and smoke within the fire’s perimeter may be present until there is significant snow fall.  This will be the last update for the Cinnabar Fire. If you have any further questions, please call the Missoula Ranger District at 406-329-3814.
 
 

Fire behavior is minimal on the Cinnabar Fire and has been moderated due to cooler temperatures and moisture over the last two days. Light suppression repair is still ongoing to naturalize firefighting efforts, blending impacted areas into the landscape. Please see below for a picture of fire activity earlier this week. Up to an inch of rain is expected over the next few days, however this still does not mean the end of fire season. Please continue to use caution when recreating in the woods this weekend and do your part to prevent a wildland fire. The closure order will be modified soon and in place until further notice. This will be the last update until next week.
 
 

After weather on Saturday brought a ½ inch of rain to the area, the Cinnabar Fire was transitioned to a Type 4 incident on Monday, September 21. Personnel will remain on scene patrolling intermittently throughout the coming weeks to remove equipment and begin the process of light suppression repair. Repair efforts so far have included bringing two helispots back to a more natural appearance, as well as blending a short piece of handline into the landscape. An infrared flight was conducted over the fire last night to gain an accurate fire perimeter and updated acreage. The Cinnabar Fire is now listed at 2948 acres. Please see the map below for an accurate representation of the fire’s perimeter. The extended forecast calls for showers and cooler temperatures as early as Thursday, and into the weekend. Unless there are significant changes, this will be the last update until further notice.

The Cinnabar fire activity levels have remained very minimal for the last 10 days. Very little smoke has been observed on the fire. The fire has been staffed daily and additional resources are locally available if needed. This weekend’s weather is predicted to bring additional cool temperatures and moisture to the fire area.

The upcoming weather does not mean the end of fire season. The Lolo National Forest responds to many unattended warming fires during hunting season, so please be cautious of hot vehicle tailpipes when parking your car, and make sure to extinguish your campfire completely before leaving. Fires should be cool to the touch. Drown ALL embers with water or stir dirt into the embers with a shovel if water is not available.

Unless there are significant changes, this will be the last update for Cinnabar Fire until next week.
 
 
 

Fire activity remains low on the Cinnabar Fire with some smoldering, creeping, and single tree torching. See below for a picture of single tree torching that occurred over the weekend. Growth over the weekend was minimal, and crews continue to patrol, and evaluate heat along the fire’s perimeter. For the remainder of the week, crews will continue to staff the fire and take suppression actions where needed.

Unless there are significant changes, there will be no updates for the Cinnabar until later this week.


 

20-021-LOLO-D3
 

BITTERROOT AND LOLO NATIONAL FORESTS

Supervisor’s Order AREA, ROAD AND TRAIL CLOSURE

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.50(a) and 261.50 (b), the following acts are prohibited on the National Forest System land described below, within the Missoula Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest, Missoula and Granite Counties, Montana and the Stevensville Ranger District on the Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, Montana.

PROHIBITIONS

1. Going into or being upon any area which is closed for the protection of Public health or safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53 (e).

2. Being on the road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54 (e).

3. Being on the trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55 (a).

CLOSED AREA

1. Starting in the northeast corner of the area closure in T10N, R16W, Sect. 6 at the junction of Solomon Ridge Trail # 142 and the Welcome Creek Wilderness Boundary. Following the Wilderness Boundary south to its junction Cinnamon Bear Creek and Rock Creek in T9N, R17W, Sect. 20. Following Rock Creek down to its junction with the Wahlquist Ridge Trail #233 in T9N, R17W, Sect. 30. Following and including Trail #233 northwest to the Bitterroot/Lolo National Forest Boundary in T9N, R18W, Sect. 15. Following the Forests’ boundary south to its junction with Ambrose/Rock Creek Road #428 in T9N, R18W, Sect. 22. Following but not including Road #428 to the west line of T9N, R18W, Sect. 22. Head north following the west line of the Bitterroot National Forest lands in T9N, R18W, Sections 22, 15, 10 and 3 to the north line of T9N, R18W, Sect. 3. Continue to follow the west boundary of the Bitterroot National Forest lands in T10N, R18W, Sections 34, 27, 22, 21, and 18. Then heading east to the western line of Sect. 13 of the same T & R. Heading north, following the western section line of Sect. 13 and the western property line of the Bitterroot National Forest lands in sections 11 and 12 in T10N, R18W to its junction with Bitterroot Divide Road #4243 in T10N, R18W, Sect 2. Following and including Road #4243 to its junction with Welcome Mountain Road #4249 in T11N, R18W, Sect. 35. Following and including Road #4249 east to its junction with Solomon Ridge Trail #142 in T10N, R17W, Sect. 3. Following and including Trail #142 back to the starting point in T10N, R16W, Sect. 6.

CLOSED ROAD

1. Skyline Road, NFSR #2129, from milepost 0.00 at its junction with Roads #428 (T9N, R18W, Sect. 22) to the end of the road (T10N, R18W, Sect. 25).

2. Bitterroot Divide Road, NFSR #4243, from milepost 9.80 at its junction with Roads #17851 and #601 (T10N, R18W, Sect. 2) to milepost 8.64 at its junction with Road 4249 (T11N, R18W, Sect. 35).

3. Welcome Mountain Road, NFSR #4249, from milepost 0.00 at its junction with Road 4243 (T11N, R18W, Sect. 35) to milepost the end of the road at its junction with Trail #142 (T10N, R17W, Sect. 3).

CLOSED TRAIL

1.Solomon Ridge Trail, NFST #142, from milepost 4.27 at its junction with road 4249(T10N, R17W, Sect. 3) to milepost 0.43 at its junction with Rock Creek.

2.Wahlquist Ridge Trail, NFST #233, from milepost 0.23 at its junction with Rock Creek(T9N, R17W, Sect. 30) to in its entirety (T16N, R29W, Sect. 3).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this order is for public health and safety due to hazardous conditions resulting from fire activities.

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to Title 36 C.F.R § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order. 36 C.F.R § 261.50(e)(1).

2.Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in performance of an official duty. 36 C.F.R § 261.50(e)(4).

VIOLATION

Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. § 3559, 3571, and 3581).

IMPLEMENTATION

1.This order will be in effect upon signing and will remain in effect through until rescinded.

2.Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Lolo National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Missoula, MT, telephone number (406) 329-3750 or the Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Hamilton, MT, telephone number (406) 363-7100.

Done at Missoula, Montana this 11th day of September, 2020.

Fire activity on the Cinnabar Fire has been minimal with only isolated smoke from the interior of the fire’s perimeter. No new growth has occurred since the fire received moisture on September 7th. Crews will remain on scene and assigned to the fire until weather or fire activity dictates. Friday, September 11th, will be the final day of chipping felled trees from the indirect fire line. The closure order for the fire has been updated to open the Ambrose Saddle Road to the ridge. An updated closure order and map is located under the Closure tab for this incident. 
 
Unless there are significant changes, there will be no updates to the Cinnabar Fire until Monday, September 14th.

Cinnabar Fire                   

This will be the final daily update for the Cinnabar Fire.

Updates will be posted to Inciweb and the Lolo Facebook page as needed.

Start date: August 19th

Location: Welcome Creek Wilderness, Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, Granite County

Cause: Lightning

Total Personnel: 196

Current Size: 2,689 acres

Containment: 0%

Resources Assigned: 2 initial attack crews, 3 engines, 2 aircraft, several water tenders and pieces of heavy equipment.

Current Status & Planned Activity: Active surface fire with occasional single tree torching was observed yesterday morning prior to the precipitation event. Rain and snow began early afternoon with 2 inches of snow falling over the fire. Crews across the fire area will check control lines and clear any fallen trees from yesterday’s strong wind gusts. Firefighters will patrol control lines to the north and east of the fire area and monitor fire activity in the South Fork of Gilbert Creek. To the south, work will continue along road 4268 as it is cleared for indirect line. The Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team (IMT) Seven will transition with a local Type III Incident Management Team tomorrow, September 9.

Weather: Today, sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 40s and light winds from 5 to 10 mph are expected in the fire area. A warming and drying trend will occur throughout the week with continued light winds.

Closures: An emergency closure is in place for National Forest System lands on the Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, and Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest. The closure is in place for public and firefighter safety and includes the entire Welcome Creek Wilderness and additional roads and trails adjacent to the Wilderness. For the current closure and map visit Inciweb. The Rock Creek Road #102 corridor and recreation access remains open.

Help us help you. We’re in this together – Prevent Wildfires.

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Start date: August 19th

Location: Welcome Creek Wilderness, Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, Granite County

Cause: Lightning

Total Personnel: 198

Current Size: 2,689 acres

Containment: 0%

Resources Assigned: Northern Rockies Team Seven, a Type II Incident Management Team is currently managing the incident. Resources assigned to the incident include: 2 initial attack crews, 3 engines, 3 aircraft, several water tenders and pieces of heavy equipment.

Current Status & Planned Activity: Yesterday brought moderate fire activity with active surface fire and occasional group tree torching in the Ferret and Carron Creek areas. The fire grew a little over 200 acres and has reached the South Fork of Gilbert Creek. Control lines are in place to the north and east of the fire and firefighters will monitor and patrol these areas today. Crews working on the west side of the fire will maintain their hose lays and continue to check fire progression as it approaches trail #313. To the south of the fire, firefighters continue to work on clearing road 4268 to utilize as indirect line. Minimal fire activity and growth is expected today with the much cooler weather and precipitation.

Weather: The cold front arriving today will cause a decrease in temperature and an increase in winds. Temperatures in the fire area will be in the mid to high 40’s with northeast winds 20 to 30 mph. Precipitation is likely early afternoon with the potential for up to .25 inches.

Closures: An emergency closure is in place for National Forest System lands on the Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest, and Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest. The closure is in place for public and firefighter safety and includes the entire Welcome Creek Wilderness and additional roads and trails adjacent to the Wilderness. For the current closure and map visit Inciweb. The Rock Creek Road #102 corridor and recreation access remains open.

Help us help you. We’re in this together – Prevent Wildfires.

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