The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning through August 3 at 11 p.m. in the fire area. Critical fire weather conditions continue and fire plumes could be visible in some areas. The Telephone Fire grew by 4,500 acres overnight, mainly in the northwest corner and the interior of the northeast corner within existing line. Small-scale ignition operations that crews have done to bring line towards the Upper Pine Fire footprint have made it possible to establish an anchor multiple times for this incident, which has been a huge success.
With no more burnable vegetation, Upper Pine created an anchor point for crews. Anchor points are a safe place to put resources to add line, then small-scale ignition operations can be done off these areas to remove additional fuel. Friday, on the northeast side of the fire, crews completed a small-scale ignition operation of a piece of unburned vegetation between the Upper Pine area and another burnout. Crews will continue using the same tactics today if conditions allow. Crews on the east side will do the same, working towards the northeast. Some recent intense weather has helped with these operations, and crews have gained 3/4 of a mile of depth into the containment area.
Crews worked the southwest corner of the fire on Friday to address a slop-over, with help from air support. A new small slop-over on the southern portion of the 2820 occurred Friday evening and crews are actively working to prevent its spread. They will continue this on Saturday with assistance from additional crews. A task force will monitor the southwest and the east sides of the Telephone Fire.
On Friday, structural task forces, each consisting of five apparatus and approximately 15 firefighters, worked along the northwest corner of the fire. Fire crews made it up to King Mountain where they prepped and wrapped communication equipment with fire-resistant materials. The communications equipment is a critical resource to emergency services operations in the region. The structural task force assigned to night shift worked along the northwest corner of the fire. Firefighters spent the evening prepping homes along Purdy Road and working near 2820 Road.
On Saturday, crews will continue to hold, improve, and mop up existing line on the east and northeast sides of the Telephone Fire, and work to tie in the burned area along the upper side of the northeast corner of the eastern perimeter, working towards achieving 100% containment in this area.
Aerial resources assigned: Two Type 1 helicopters and One Type 1 Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) assigned and available to all fires in the area. Air support also includes a lend/leasing system and additional aircraft will be pulled from different areas of the region to our fires today.
Community Meetings Scheduled
Saturday, August 3 at 3 p.m., at the Drewsey School Gymnasium, 7882 Drewsey Rd, Drewsey, OR
Leaders of the Alaska Incident Management Team will be in Drewsey for a community meeting to provide an update on the Telephone Fire, Falls Fire, and several other fires in the area. The meeting will be shared on the Malheur National Forest Facebook page and the Falls and Telephone Fires Facebook page.
Priorities for Saturday, August 3
*Weather and fuel conditions are in alignment for extreme fire behavior today.
- Initial Attack: The potential for new fire starts in the area remains significant, and firefighters remain vigilant and focused on initial attack (IA) and are ready to respond to any new threats.
- Protect and prepare homes along the north and northwest portion of the Telephone Fire. Support wildland firing operations and line control along the north and northeast flank of the Telephone Fire.
- Work to hold line and prevent spread toward King Mountain on the southwest side of the Telephone Fire.
- Continue piecing together line along the northwest corner of the Falls Fire; look for contingency lines to prevent spread to the west.
- Hold, and improve existing line on the east and northeast sides of the Telephone Fire, and work to tie in the burned area along the upper side of the northeast corner of the east side.
QUICK FACTS
Size: 50,863
Start Date: July 22, 2024
Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR
Containment: 23%.
Total Personnel: 436 personnel
Cause: Lightning/Natural
Resources Assigned: 11 hand crews, 20 engines, 6 bulldozers, 7 water tenders, 4 skidders
INFORMATION LINKS
Falls & Telephone fires Facebook page
Telephone Fire InciWeb
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
