Officials with Six Rivers National Forest have provided some info as to the status of a wildfire burning in the Marble Mountains near the area where two missing Eureka hikers were found yesterday. The estimated 36-acre fire is in a difficult-to-access area south of Black Mountain in the Wooley Creek drainage area (see the map below). 

In the press release below, the U.S. Forest Service is careful not to assign blame for how the fire started.

“The cause of the fire remains under investigation,” the release states. Full release below:  

There is still no containment on a small fire burning in the Marble Mountain Wilderness on the Six Rivers National Forest. The 36-acre Wilderness Fire started the afternoon of July 4, south of Black Mountain and northwest of the historic Fowler Cabin, near where two missing hikers were found.

The fire is burning within the footprint of 2008 fires, in very steep terrain, heavy fuels and standing dead trees. Management concerns in this area include the Wooley Creek drainage and the historic cabin. Cultural resource advisors have been contacted to determine whether there are additional cultural resources of concern within the area.

There are currently 28 smokejumpers, two handcrews, two engines and three helicopters on the fire. An additional two handcrews have been ordered and should arrive sometime this morning.

According to Forest Supervisor Merv George Jr., “We weren’t able to get boots on the ground until yesterday afternoon, due to the extremely smoky conditions and low visibility. Firefighter safety is always our number one priority, so we needed some of that smoke to clear out before we sent our people in.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

PREVIOUSLY: (UPDATED) Eureka Hikers Missing in Marble Mountains