BAYVIEW - Moderate weather let firefighters reassess their strategy on the Cape Horn Fire Monday, as crews attacked the last remaining flank of the fire.

According to an update from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team Monday afternoon, changing fire and weather conditions have allowed firefighters to switch from indirect fire containment and suppression actions to a direct attack on the final remaining fire front running along the eastern side of the steep Three Sisters Ridge.

Due to the changing weather conditions, previously planned burn-out operations on the north side of the Cape Horn Fire have been postponed.

Sixty firefighters from three hotshot crews mounted a coordinated attack on the uncontrolled north head of the fire and are successfully securing the fire's edge in the rugged mountainside north of Cape Horn.

"An earlier attempt at direct attack proved unsafe due to fire intensity. However, improved weather conditions and the arrival of additional resources have allowed incident managers to reassess the strategy," the update said, adding the Ruby Mountain Hotshots of Elko, Nev., the Gila Hotshots of New Mexico and Idaho's own Panhandle Hotshots are conducting a direct "boots-on-the-ground" attack on the fire.

Starting at the top of the steep mountain grade, they are cutting fireline, extinguishing flames, and securing the fire edge all the way down to the lake.

"This effort saves us from burning additional acres and causing concern from residents seeing the smoke rising over the horizon for a second time," the release said. "The burnout operations are still being retained as a contingency plan if necessary, but at this time "Plan A" is making great progress."

Free meal for firefighters, Bayview residents today

Miller's Harvest Foods in Spirit Lake has teamed up with Sunwood's Cowboy Bar-B-Q and will serve more than 200 free meals to firefighters and Bayview residents today.

The cookout for those affected by the Cape Horn Fire will run from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot just west of the Button Hook in Bayview.