Updates on other area fires:  Cape Horn, Granite, Blacktail

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.