Fire burns near Hot Springs

The end of fire season appears near, but it isn't here just yet.

The Welcome 1002 fire, named after a forest road number in the area, a 30-acre blaze caused by lightning last weekend about 2.5 miles southwest of Hot Springs, was being managed by the CSKT Division of Fire earlier this week.

With smoke visible to residents of the valley, the fire was attacked by a combination of forces, including firefighters on the ground, smokejumpers from the air and helicopters equipped with buckets for water drops.

Though within a quarter mile of a road, there was no vehicular access to the fire.

Upward of 50 personnel were involved in the fire fight by Monday afternoon. As of Tuesday morning, 85 personnel were assigned to the Welcome 1002 fire.

A total of nine smokejumpers parachuted into the fire Monday, and they have joined forces with a 20-person initial attack crew, two other 20-person Type 2 crews, a Type 3 helicopter, two dozers, two Temcos and miscellaneous overhead on the fire.

CSKT tribal roads HS-1000 and HS-3000 are closed due to fire operations. Tribal officials urge the public to avoid the area.