QUICK FACTS
Size: 50,863
Start Date: July 22, 2024
Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR
Containment: 23%
Total Personnel: 483 personnel
Cause: Lightning/Natural
Resources Assigned: 14 hand crews, 37 engines, 6 bulldozers, 12 water tenders, 4 skidders
Community Meetings Scheduled: Sunday, August 4 at 3 p.m. at the Izee Schoolhouse, 45477 Izee Paulina Lane, Izee
Leaders of the Alaska Incident Management Team will be in Izee 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 Sunday, August 4:
- Initial Attack (IA): The potential for new fire starts in the area remains significant, and firefighters remain vigilant and focused on IA, ready to respond to any new threats
- Install sprinkler kits on structures near the fire perimeter.
- West side of the Telephone Fire
- Gilbert Ridge area
- Northwest side of the Falls/Sand Fires
Despite a weather system that came in yesterday with dry lightning and down drafts, no overall growth was detected on the Telephone Fire. The fire area received 0.1 to 0.2 inches of rain last night, which helped to moderate fuels, slow fire progression, and help firefighters get a foothold. There is containment line around most of the east side of the fire, and crews have completed tying into Pine Creek on the northeast corner of the fire. Crews are continuing to work on areas of potential threat in the Poujade area. Today, along the eastern side of the fire, crews will continue mopping up to additional depth and taking care of any heat areas detected. On the west side of Telephone, which has had the most significant growth over the last few days, there was a slop-over several shifts ago which came up the south side of King Mountain moving toward the south end of Silvies Valley and Purdy Ranch. Crews continue to work that slop-over area. There was also some spotting last night near the Rattlesnake area; night shift crews were able to do small-scale ignition operations to address issues, continuing to secure their anchor as they work north, which is extremely important for safety, efficiency, and progress. Crews are scouting this area for opportunities to tie into road systems to go direct where available. Crews will also continue to address the slop-over across the 2820 road today. With hot and dry weather conditions, some growth is expected on the Telephone Fire, and crews are working hard to get containment on some of these features.
Yesterday, structural crews with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) successfully defended a home and nearby structures along Roach Creek by using wrap, removing nearby fuels, and holding containment lines around the home and multiple structures on the property. Structural task forces also worked in the northeast and northwest portions of the fire to put out hotspots and prep homes along 3935 and Purdy Road.
Overnight and through today, task forces will work to complete their structure prep objectives and install sprinkler kits. Sprinkler kits can be a valuable tool to help fire crews protect homes with less firefighting resources. Sprinkler systems are tied into nearby water sources or portable tanks and activated if the fire moves toward structures. Based on progress made in structural protection, the task force from Clatsop County is returning home today, and the OSFM will continue to monitor fire progress and conditions to determine if more task forces may be sent back to their home agencies in the coming days.
As fire crews work in the western area of the Telephone Fire, Resource Advisors (READs) and Agency Administrators are in communication with local Tribal representatives to ensure that cultural resources in the area are identified and safeguarded to every extent possible. In addition, resources are also being utilized to address and mitigate environmental impacts on the land as a result of fire suppression efforts. READs work closely with area archeologists, range technicians, and other local experts to coordinate restoration and support the success of the operation.
Weather: Today winds will be west/northwesterly, 8-12 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Temps will be up to 90 degrees, with relative humidity of 18-25%. Low relative humidity, winds, and column establishment from instability are primary drivers of the fire, and conditions remain supportive for fire growth.
Evacuation map: https://tinyurl.com/3zst4sjy
Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page
Closures: A closure is in effect for the two portions of the Malheur National Forest that run west of 395B, north of Mt. Vernon and south of Long Creek, in the Fox Valley area, including all roads, trails, and camping locations within the fire closure area. A detailed map of the closure is included and available on the Malheur National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/) and offices.
Investigation: U.S. Forest Service fire investigators are seeking the public’s assistance with any tips or information pertinent to the start of the Falls Fire in the Malheur National Forest. Please submit any information that could assist fire investigation efforts 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 before 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
