Single Publication

Falls and Telephone Fires Update for August 13, 2024 

Telephone Fire Quick Facts:

Size: 53,989 Start Date: July 22, 2024 Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR

Containment: 64% Cause: Lightning/Natural

Falls Fire Quick Facts:

Size: 151,399 Start Date: July 10, 2024 Location: 13 Miles NW of Burns, OR

Containment: 87% 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: 92% Cause: Lightning/Natural

Total Personnel Across all fires: 1135

Total Resources Assigned: 30 hand crews, 48 engines, 14 bulldozers, 31 water tenders, 1 masticator, 12 skidgines

Aerial resources assigned: One Type 1 helicopter

Post-fire Recovery Meeting, hosted by OSU Extension Office: Tonight, August 13, 7:00 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. This meeting will be recorded and shared on the Falls and Telephone Fires Facebook page.

Priorities for Monday August 12

1. 1)  Initial Attack (IA) is the highest priority to keep all new fires as small as possible.
2. 2)  West side of the Telephone Fire/King Mountain area.
3. 3)  Northeast portion of the Falls Fire near Myrtle Creek.

Telephone Fire: Yesterday, firefighters continued securing the fire edge along the 2820 Road east of Coffeepot Creek and worked aggressively to keep fire west of the 28 Road. Additionally, ranchers, firefighters and cooperators worked together to drive cattle south along the 28 Road to safer, unburned areas for grazing. Other portions of the fire were monitored and patrolled. Today, work to construct a shaded fuel break on the 2830 and 28 Roads will be nearing completion. Firefighters in the southwest and west will be cleaning up pockets and conducting burn operations to remove unburned fuels that contribute to continued fire activity. The eastern side of the fire is being monitored and patrolled.

Falls/Sand Mountain Fires: Yesterday, crews continued to contain fire near the 31 Road northeast of Crane Flats and worked to remove hazardous trees called snags in the northeast portion of the fire. Crews also strengthened containment lines and monitored earlier fire spread near Myrtle Creek. Today, crews will work on backhaul on the west side of the fire. Backhaul—the process of returning equipment and supplies on a wildfire to a central point for redistribution—is an essential part of wildfire logistics and ensures that resources are efficiently managed and available for changing fire conditions or future incidents. Firefighters in the northeast will focus on clearing out small pockets, conducting burn operations to remove unburned fuels that contribute to fire activity, and continuing felling operations to remove hazardous trees. With increased containment across the fire, more of the perimeter is in patrol and monitor status.

Weather: Overnight, most of the area received some rain and a large number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occurred east of Highway 395. Today, anticipate moderate and stable conditions, with breezy winds and low relative humidity. Temperatures are expected to be cooler than yesterday, accompanied by clear skies and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Looking ahead, moderate conditions will persist on Wednesday with calmer winds. Thunderstorm activity is likely to return on Thursday.

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