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Cinnabar Fire holding steady 2,000 acres

Cinnabar Fire 8 25
Posted at 10:43 AM, Aug 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-27 17:39:58-04

MISSOULA — Northern Rockies Team Seven, a Type II Incident Management Team, assumed command of the 2,000-acre Cinnabar Fire early Thursday.

Resources assigned to the incident include one hotshot crew, two initial attack crews, one engine, four helicopters, and several pieces of heavy equipment.

Fire managers note that additional resources have been ordered and will arrive over the coming days.

The Cinnabar Fire continues to burn in heavy timber within the boundary of the Welcome Creek Wilderness.

Access to the area is limited and fire resources are implementing indirect suppression tactics and use of aerial resources as conditions allow.

There was little fire activity and growth on Wednesday with minimal with creeping, smoldering and some isolated tree torching, according to fire managers.

Firefighters worked to construct and improve indirect line and hose lays on existing routes on the west side of the fire.

Crews will work Thursday to improve indirect line and hose lays on the west side of the fire along Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 north toward Cleveland Mountain.

The fire continues to burn within the Welcome Creek Wilderness boundary, on the Lolo National Forest in Granite County.

An emergency closure is in place for National Forest System lands on the Missoula Ranger District in the Lolo National Forest and the Stevensville Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest.

The closure includes the entire Welcome Creek Wilderness, and additional roads and trails adjacent to the Wilderness for public and firefighter safety.

The Rock Creek Road #102 corridor and recreation access remains open.

There are currently 89 people battling the Cinnabar Fire which was sparked by lightning on Aug. 19.