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Updates on other area fires: Cape Horn,
Granite, Blacktail |
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July 11, 2015 |
Cape Horn Fire at Bayview
As of 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, the fire
is at 1,308 acres, and is 50% contained.
Fireline is mostly completed along the north
side of the fire. Extremely steep terrain
adjacent to Lake Pend Oreille with slopes in the
70%-80% range make building fireline difficult.
Hand crews plan to continue to work the fireline
tomorrow and work towards tying in with the
shoreline.
Currently there are fourteen 20-person crews on
the fire, along with 26 engines, three
helicopters, a fire boat, a Navy boat, two
sheriff's boats, four dozers, 13 water tenders,
for 498 total personnel.
The cause of this fire remains under
investigation.
All road blocks and closures on Cape Horn Road
have been lifted, although due to dangerous
conditions, fire officials are requesting that
only residents of the area and those with actual
business in the area enter the Cape Horn area.
Idaho Governor Butch Otter visited the Cape Horn
Fire last Thursday, July 9.
Granite Fire, located west of Priest
Lake
The Granite Fire, burning west of Priest Lake
since the June 29 lightning storm, is at 207
acres, and containment of this fire has
increasaed to 50%.
There are currently 82 firefighters working this
fire. Helicopters remain available and a dozer
is staged near the fire.
Firefighters will began laying out hoses and
water pumps to begin the “mop up” of the fire.
According to fire officials, “Mop up” refers to
the action of having fire fighters search out
hidden hot spots and drowning those hot spots
with a slurry of water and dirt. This intensive
work will focus on the first 66 feet from the
fire edge into the burned area. Mop up
activities will be ongoing for a number of days.
Blacktail Fire, located west of Priest
Lake
The Blacktail Fire, which also began with a
lightning strike on June 29, is at 11 acres, and
is 70% contained.
Helicopters moved collapsable water storage
tanks to the fire area, to provide water for
fire crews to use on hot spots.
There are 35 firefighters on the Blacktail Fire,
along with support helicopters.
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