Area fires coming under control; latest report on Baker's Camp Fire

July 20, 2014

Baker’s Camp Fire, Boundary County The Baker’s Camp Fire remains at 49 acres. It is currently at 90% containment. A 21-person hotshot crew remains at the site to monitor and work at the fire. Fire officials flew a digital infrared camera over the location yesterday, and no hot spots were detected. The camera was to fly over the site again today. It is anticipated that the fire will be controlled within the next day or so. Local fire crews will soon be assuming control of what remains of this fire site. Cape Horn Fire at Bayview The Cape Horn Fire is 100% contained. Yesterday, an incident management team from Arizona took over control of managing the fire. Even though the fire is 100% contained, fire officials say it still needs to be managed to maintain and improve existing fire lines, recover equipment used in the containment, and mopping up of the fire along with some limited habitat repair on part of the fire and dozer lines. Crews will be mopping up hand lines around the fire, which involves putting out all remaining smoke and heat along the fireline to a depth of 200 feet or greater along the perimeter. Water bars will be created at strategic places along the hand lines placed along the steep and rugged ridge sides. Fire officials are asking the public to be aware that there will be isolated pockets of unburnt fuels within the fire perimeter that may burn or flare up over the next few weeks. Because of the steep terrain, unstable rocks, and fire weakened trees, fire fighters will not be placed in harm’s way to put out these isolated flare-ups that have no danger of jumping the containment lines or threatening homes and outbuildings. The Idaho Department of Lands and the Arizona Incident Management Team working the fire will hold a community meeting at the Bayview Community Center at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22 to update the public the situation on the fire and to discuss proposed rehabilitation programs for the burned area. Granite Lake Fire, west of Priest Lake. Fire officials have announced that the 207 acre Granite Fire, caused by a June 29 lightning strike, is 100% contained. The control line around the fire is complete and is holding. Mop up is continuing with hoses and pumps at the site to control any remaining hot spots. At this point, 49 firefighters are on the job at this site, down from 70 yesterday. The Type III Incident Management Team that had most recently been fighting the fire will turn control of the area back to local officials on Wednesday, July 22. Blacktail Fire, west of Priest Lake The 11 acre Blacktail Fire, also caused in the June 29 lightning storm, continues to be 100% contained and in controlled status, which fire officials say means the line around the fire is complete and is holding. At this point there are no firefighters at the site. The location continues to be monitored by air patrols.