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Update on four area fires, including
Baker's Camp Fire |
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July 13 |
Cape Horn Fire, near Bayview
Reports from earlier today indicate the fire is
at 1,326 acres, and is 60% contained.
Fire officials are planning to do a control burn
within the fire perimeter on Wednesday, July 15,
along with continuing to work on fireline,
removal of hazard trees, and mop up.
A community meeting has been set for Tuesday,
July 14 at 8:00 p.m. to discuss the control burn
and any other fire issues.
Baker's Camp Fire in Boundary County
According to reports from 11:00 a.m. this
morning, helicopters were busy yesterday
dropping approximately 38,000 gallons of water
on the southeast corner of the fire. Fire
officials indicate that use of air support is
the best tactical approach for this fire due to
the steep and rocky terrain. The heavy
application of water and cooler temperatures
allowed firefighters to bring the fire’s
containment up to 75%.
Over the weekend, firefighters were able to get
a fireline around the southeast corner of the
fire, which has been the most active and
challenging area of the fire, according to
Shanna Kleinsmith, Public Information Officer.
Firefighters will begin preparation today for
laying out hoses and water pumps to begin the
“mop up” of the fire. “Mop up” refers to the
action of having fire fighters search out hidden
hot spots and drown those hot spots with a
slurry of water and dirt.
Air drops of water and fire retardant continue
today, ground crews continue to manage the fire
and to seek out any spot fires that may have
occurred.
Granite Fire, west of Priest Lake
According to the latest available reports as of
this morning, the
size of this fire is 207 acres, and containment
is now at 75%.
There are 92 firefighters assigned to this fire.
According to officials working with the Granite
Fire, cooler temperatures and high humidity
allowed firefighters to make steady gains on
fire containment. Hose lays to support mop up
operations are in place for most of the fire
perimeter. Mop up work increased to
include the first 100 feet in from the fire
perimeter. The total fire perimeter is about 2.5
miles.
Crews are continuing mop up
operations within the fire perimeter, seeking
out and taking care of hidden hot spots at the
fire.
On Friday, storms that passed through the area
started three new fires in the Priest Lake area,
those fires located at Shedroof, Little Snowy,
and Kalispell Rock. The Priest Lake Ranger
Station is managing those new fires, and
fortunately all were contained before they could
spread.
Blacktail Fire, west of Priest Lake
The latest report available indicated the
Blacktail Fire was at 11 acres and was 95%
contained. The total perimeter of the fire
is about 1/2 mile. There are 32
firefighters working on this fire.
There may be thunderstorms in the area later
today.
Fire officials are reporting an unusual incident
a few days ago with the crew battling the
Blacktail Fire. The fire crew had retired for
the evening at their base camp site, when they
were unexpectedly awakened by the smell of smoke
at their own camp. They found a fire in the
nearby woods which they had to suppress that
night, when they were supposed to be sleeping.
It was found that this fire was caused by a
camper who had used the campsite before the
crew's arrival--apparently this camper had
dumped hot charcoal briquettes in the woods,
igniting the fire 48 hours later that the fire
crew had to put out.
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