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Cape Horn Fire 50 percent contained

by JEFF SELLE/jselle@cdapress.com
| July 11, 2015 9:00 PM

BAYVIEW - The Cape Horn Fire grew by an additional 96 acres Friday and could get worse today as thunderstorms roll into the region.

As of 9 p.m. Friday, the fire had grown to 1,296 acres, but it is now 50 percent contained and fire crews are making headway on fire lines along the northern flank of the fire.

"Along the north side of the fire, mechanical line was mostly completed," the Western Montana Type II Interagency Incident Management Team reported Friday night. "Hand crews will continue working the fire line (today) and tie in with the shoreline."

The release said fire crews continued building containment lines and conducting burnout operations along the fire perimeter. Helicopters supported ground operations by dropping water to strengthen fire lines and cool hotspots.

Crews have been increased to a total of 491 personnel, and the amount of heavy equipment to fight the fire is also increasing.

Fire managers are concerned about the potential for lightning storms over the next few days.

"With an ensuing thunderstorm approaching the fire area, a red flag warning has been issued," the release said Friday night. "Potential high and erratic winds are a possibility that may affect fire behavior (today)."

While roadblocks were being lifted for people who had legitimate business in the Cape Horn area, the incident management team said Friday night that all roadblocks and closures on Cape Horn Road remain in effect to the "general public" with access to property owners and residents only.

"The area is a hazardous environment with many smoldering hot spots, rolling rocks and logs," the release said. "Firefighters and utility personnel are traveling and working directly from the road. We ask residents to use extreme caution when traveling in the area."

The incident command team will hold a community meeting tonight at 8 p.m. in the Bayview Community Center.

"We will continue to update our Inciweb and Facebook pages daily and information officers will be posting updates and interfacing with residents throughout the community," the report said, adding the fire is still under investigation. "Any rumors of cause and origin are speculative and unsubstantiated."