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Fires update: Cape Horn expands,
assistance requested from Boundary County;
local Baker's Camp fire coming under control |
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July 6, 2015--12:40 p.m. |
Cape Horn Fire, at the southern end of
Lake Pend Orielle
Fire officials reported early this morning that
the fire is at 2,000 acres, with rapid spread.
Evacuations have been issued by the Bonner
County Sheriff in the Cape Horn and Bayview
areas, using reverse 911 system.
Michael Meier, Boundary County Public
Information Officer, has notified NewsBF that
Boundary County Emergency Management received a
call for assistance from Kootenai County
Emergency Management early this morning,
requesting any fire team help that might be
available from surrounding agencies.
On receipt of this request, Dave Kramer,
Boundary County Emergency Management Director,
contacted Fire Chiefs throughout Boundary County
for help. As of this morning, South Boundary
Fire is sending a Type Four Fire Truck with two
personnel. Other local Fire Chiefs will also
send equipment and personnel as they are
available.
Crews at Cape Horn are continuing to work to
hold the fire on the eastern half of Cape Horn
today.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this
time.
Officials report that cell phone towers in the
area are having difficulty handling the volume
of calls, and ask that those in the area only
use cell phones in an emergency, helping to keep
lines open for responding firefighters and
emergency situations.
Baker's Camp Fire in northern Boundary
County
As of about two hours ago, officials are
reporting the fire at 35 acres with 25%
containment. Seventy-five percent of handline
has been completed, and it is anticipated that a
100% handline will be completed today by the 63
firefighting personnel working this fire.
Several helicopters are also assisting with this
fire, conducting water bucket drops and air
support logistics.
Officials further report that at the scene of
the Baker's Camp Fire, good humidity and cooler
temperatures have resulted in minimal growth and
minimal fire behavior in the last 24 hours.
Granite Fire, located west of Priest
Lake
Some setbacks in battling this fire have been
reported.
As of 10:00 a.m. this morning, the Priest Lake
Ranger District is reporting the fire at 100
acres, with 0% containment at this time. No
structures are threatened by this fire at this
time.
Crews had constructed a 12 foot wide fireline on
the western edge of the fire, however they were
forced to disengage from the fire yesterday due
to danger of high winds, falling snags, steep
terrain, and rapid spread of the fires.
The fire jumped the 12 foot fireline and ignited
spot fires on its western flank. In addition, it
spread as far as Granite Creek toward the north.
Fire crews worked yesterday holding the fire
from crossing Granite Creek and roads that run
nearby.
There are 65 firefighters on this fire, with
another 40 expected to arrive. Several
helicopters and a bulldozer are also working at
this scene.
Crews at the Granite Creek fire today are
working to hold it from progressing in the
north, and are scouting areas in the western and
southern perimeters of the fire where new
firelines might be constructed.
Click here to see a map of the Granite Creek
fire area, provided by the Forest Service.
Blacktail Fire, west of Priest Lake
As of about 15 minutes ago, this fire is
reported as involving 32 acres, and is 20%
contained. Thirty-two firefighters continue to
work on handline construction, and helicopters
with water buckets are also involved in fighting
the fire.
Other fires are burning in our region:
Blue Fire, located about 50
miles southeast of Grangeville, Idaho: 325 acres
Glacier Rim Fire in the Flathead
National Forest, near Glacier National Park in
Montana: 100 acres
231 Fire, located about 30 miles
northwest of Spokane near Springdale,
Washington: 880 acres
Twenty-one Mile Grade Fire,
located 18 miles south of Republic, Washington,
2,200 acres.
Additional fires are burning in other
areas of the western United States (not a
complete list):
Galena Zone Fires, Alaska:
104,218 acres
Rex Complex Fire, Alaska: 16,189
acres
Sockeye Fire, Alaska: 7,220
acres
Williams Fire, Washington: 332
acres
Newby Lake Fire, Washington:
1,450 acres
Corner Creek Fire, Oregon,
26,414 acres
Scipio Summit Fire, Utah: 300
acres, shut down Interstate 15 on July 4 for a
period of two hours.
Washington Fire, Nevada: 17,790
acres
Mt. Emma Fire, Arizona: 4,200
acres
Red Canyon Fire, New Mexico:
17,843 acres
and other fires not listed here
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