Cape Horn Fire investigation continues
BAYVIEW - It's been more than a week, and authorities are still mum on the cause of the Cape Horn Fire, saying only the matter is under investigation.
Still, that hasn't stopped residents and some news agencies from speculating what the cause may be.
Fueling the speculation are social media posts, and YouTube videos that show stranded boaters being rescued from a small beach at the end of Cape Horn, where the fire appears to have started.
Some believe the stranded boaters built a campfire or signal fire that escaped, and others including journalist Jeff Humphrey, of KXLY News 4, believe the fire was caused by a flare from a stranded boater.
Contacted last week, Humphrey said he wouldn't give up his source, but it is a reliable source who works in law enforcement.
Humphrey said the flare was attached to a parachute that got caught in the 40 mph winds and was blown into the tinder-dry trees at the end of Cape Horn.
Others who visited the beach where the stranded boaters were rescued on July 5 took photos and videos that appear to show an active campfire on the beach.
Fire officials on the other hand are cautioning the public to avoid speculation and to wait for the investigation to lay out all of the facts in the case.
Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the Panhandle National Forest, said some journalists are going out on a limb with their theories and that could backfire when the real facts come to light.
"They are doing the work that investigators are supposed to do," he said, when asked if he could confirm if the fire was being investigated as human-caused. "They won't say anything that would jeopardize the investigation. They won't even tell me anything."
Several people are posting pictures and videos on a Facebook page managed by Jamie Sedlmayer, a Coeur d'Alene resident and freelance photographer. The "Bayview Fire 2015" page already has 916 members and has only been active for a week.
"I couldn't find a central location to gather information," she said, explaining why she started the page. "I am part of the Priest Lake fire page on Facebook, so I just started this one."
Sedlmayer said she understands there is a lot of speculation posted on the page, but it's also a great way for people to tell their personal stories and for those who couldn't get into Bayview during the fire to communicate with those who remained in the city and didn't evacuate.
"There are a ton of pictures and personal stories on there," she said. "It is just amazing how it took off."
And while much of the information she has posted is unsubstantiated, Sedlmayer said she can't help but think the stranded boaters on the beach near where the fire appears to have started must have had something to do with it.
"But I am not an expert in fire behavior," she said, adding it could have been started with a cigarette butt for all she knows.
The official Facebook page with credible information from the fire's public information team is titled "Cape Horn Fire." It has 3,531 people who have "liked" the page.
After the KXLY story aired last week speculating a flare may have caused the fire and the Coeur d'Alene Press published a story where a couple had photos and video that appeared to show a campfire burning on the beach moments after the boaters were rescued, the Cape Horn Fire Page posted the following message.
"Rumors as to the cause and origin of the Cape Horn fire are rampant and unsubstantiated," the Facebook post said. "The Idaho Department of Lands, the Idaho State Police, the Kootenai Sheriff's Department, the Bonner County Sheriff's Department, the US Forest Service and the FBI are performing a thorough and coordinated ongoing investigation. They have not released any information at this point. An official information announcement will be released by the joint task force when a cause is determined. Until that information is released by the task force consider all stories of cause of the fire as rumors and false."
The Idaho Department of Lands has jurisdiction over the fire. Sharla Arledge, a spokeswoman for the IDL, explained the reason why investigators need to keep information quiet until all of the facts are clear.
"It is important for everyone affected by this fire that the investigation is as thorough as possible. It requires investigators to sort through numerous rumors, conduct multiple interviews, and it requires taking a close look at all the evidence," she said. "This process can take a long time, but it is important there is confidence in the process and confidence in any conclusions that may be reached when the investigation is complete."
As of 9:30 a.m. on Monday the fire had continued to grow, but firefighters had made progress on containing 60 percent of the fire with 499 firefighters.
Work continued on the mechanical and hand lines to further strengthen and widen those lines on Monday, the report said. "The removal of hazard trees, mop-up and minimal controlled burning will be conducted today."