Single Publication

Falls and Telephone Fires Update for August 11, 2024 

Telephone Fire Quick Facts: 

Size: 53,944 Start Date: July 22, 2024 Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR 

Containment: 62% Cause: Lightning/Natural 

Falls Fire Quick Facts:  

Size: 150,320 Start Date: July 10, 2024 Location: 13 Miles NW of Burns, OR 

Containment: 81% Cause: Human-caused, under investigation 

Structures Triaged: Residences: 386 / Commercial: 119 / Outbuildings: 760 

Sand Mountain Fire Quick Facts: 

Size: 7,582 Start Date: July 25, 2024 Location: 17 miles SW of Seneca, OR 

Containment: 52% Cause: Lightning/Natural 

Total Personnel Across all fires: 820 

Total Resources Assigned:  20 hand crews, 28 engines, 14 bulldozers, 22 water tenders, 1 masticator, 5 skidgines, 3 skidders. 

Aerial resources assigned: One Type 1 helicopter 

Post-fire Recovery Meeting, Hosted by Oregon State University: Tuesday, August 13, 7 p.m. at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce. Learn about resources available for residents, landowners, livestock and agricultural operations impacted by the Falls and Telephone Fires. 

Priorities for Saturday, August 11:  

1. Initial Attack (IA); firefighters are ready to respond to any new fire starts 
2. East/northeast portion of Telephone Fire 
3. West side of the Telephone Fire/King Mountain area 

Telephone Fire: Yesterday, crews focused on strengthening existing containment lines on the south and east portions of the fire, patrolling the fire perimeter, and extending containment lines to the northwest corner of the fire in the area of the earlier King Mountain spread. Overnight, additional resources worked to deepen containment in the Gobbler’s Knob area. Today, firefighters will continue to focus on the northeast corner while monitoring and patrolling the eastern perimeter of the fire. 

Falls/Sand Mountain Fires: Yesterday, firefighters continued felling hazard trees in the 3150/3160/3170 Roads area and conducting firing operations near Crane Flats and the 3170/31 Roads. Crews also focused on deepening containment lines. Overnight, crews continued burnout operations to remove unburned pockets of fuel. While containment continues to increase and more of the fire is moving into patrol status, conditions are still challenging. Crews remain vigilant and committed to strengthening lines and securing any problem areas. Today, firefighters will continue monitoring and patrolling the south and west portion of the fire near Sand Mountain and Gilbert Ridge, while conducting firing operations again. Crews are working to prevent fire from impacting private property, as well as range lands and livestock. 

Weather: Overnight, the fire area saw conditions similar to Friday evening with good relative humidity recoveries on most areas. Today, temperatures are likely to be seasonably hot. Winds this afternoon are expected to be out of the west and southwest. On Monday, an increased chance of thunderstorms will bring the potential for gusty outflow winds and wetting rains in the fire area. 

Evacuations: There are no changes to the evacuation orders for Grant and Harney Counties. For the most accurate evacuation information, visit the Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map: https://bit.ly/FallsFireEvac, or the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423 

Closures:  A closure is in effect for portions of the Malheur National Forest west of 395B, north of Mt. Vernon and south of Long Creek, in the Fox Valley area, including all roads, trails, and camping.  A closure map is available on the Malheur National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1198892) and in local U.S. Forest Service offices. 

Investigation: The U.S. Forest Service is seeking the public’s assistance with any information pertinent to the start of the Falls Fire on the Malheur National Forest. Submit any relevant information to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov.   

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): TFRs in the area have been changing; pilots should check the latest information on the Federal Aviation Administration TFR website prior to flying: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/index.html 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Falls-Fire-2024-61562126623985/ 

Falls Fire InciWeb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-falls-fire 

Telephone Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-telephone-fire 

Fire Information Line: 541-208-4370, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Email: 2024.Falls@firenet.gov 

Harney County Non-emergency Evacuation Questions: 541-589-5579 

Air Quality Questions: 541-573-2271. Air quality information, searchable by zip code: https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

Smoke Outlooks: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook