BY KAREN BOSSICK

Two wildfires 14 miles northwest of Stanley continue to grow, albeit slowly.

The fires have forced authorities to shut down Highway 21 periodically because of poor visibility due to smoke, the proximity of fire to the road and heavy fire traffic in the area.

Drivers are being rerouted in the Cape Horn area

The Vader Fire, which started the afternoon of Friday, July 19, near the Thatcher Creek Campground overlooking Cape Horn Meadows, has burned 436 acres.  The fire, which is burning in lodgepole pine, is 10 percent contained and moving south towards Vader Creek and east towards Highway 21

Campers—many of them attending the Idaho State Bow Hunters Jamboree—had to be evacuated by the fast moving flames on Friday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but it’s believed to be human caused.

A plane load of smokejumpers was tasked with fighting the fire, as were two Interagency Hotshot crews. Also fighting it are two Type 6 engines, one Type 4 engine, one Type II Initial Attack Fire crew, two Type I helicopters, four Type III helicopters and two dozers. Single engine air tankers (SEATS) and heavy air tankers are available as needed.

The second fire—the Canyon Fire—is 10 miles down the road. It started about 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14, southeast of Bull Trout Campground.  It has burned 323 acres and is 26 percent contained.

More than 200 firefighters are battling that fire. Favorable winds and weather on Sunday helped them complete a successful backburn on the northern perimeter and establish lines along the West fork of Canyon Creek.

There are no fire restrictions at this time, despite High Fire danger.

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