Overnight firefighters made progress getting around the southern portion of the fire with dozers and firefighters conducted firing operations to create control lines. The day shift will continue these efforts around the fire perimeter.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire is 91,269 acres and zero percent contained. A total of 1,413 people are assigned to the fire.
The Harney County Sheriff’s Office has evacuations in place. For the latest, follow them on Facebook.
The OSFM’s Blue Incident Management Team and seven task forces were assigned to the fire to provide structure protection. Five taskforces are from Oregon including Tillamook, Douglas, Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill, and Lincoln counties. Two task forces are from Washington state and were brought in through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Those task forces are from Snohomish, Thurston, and Grays Harbor counties.
The OSFM mobilized 96 firefighters, 28 engines, seven water tenders, and 33 incident management team members and support staff to the fire.
Wednesday, fire behavior is predicted to be heavily influenced by changing winds directions. There is an increased chance of thunderstorms in the area which will produce downdraft winds. New line construction efforts will focus on extending line from the northwest corner of the fire moving to the east across the northern flank. Crews will construct direct and indirect control lines along the northeast and southeast flanks in the Forest Service Road 31 area. Efforts to secure line between Forest Service Road 3120 and Lone Pine Road will continue. Mop-up operations will continue on portions of the southern and western areas of the fire along Forest Service Road 43. Firefighters will continue to scout for future control lines to the north and east.
Tuesday, Oregon State Fire Marshal structure teams were able to document homes and outbuildings that were lost early on in the fire. Ten homes were lost and thirteen other structures were also destroyed. The term other could be a campground building, pump house, shed, shop, lean-to and other small buildings. Information for damaged and lost assets will be delivered to Harney County. Community members with questions can contact the non-emergency county information line at 541-589-5579.
Tuesday night, OSFM night crews focused on the Lone Pine burnout operations and holding triaged homes along the southern edge of the fire. Wednesday, they will continue patrolling the Hines Logging Road and the Lone Pine Road. Two task forces will continue to identify buildings and complete the triaging process along the 31 Road and Hwy. 395. Triaging includes establishing water supply, removing fuels near structures, identifying firefighter hazards, and supporting any burnout operations near assets. Structure firefighters will progressively work their way north to the town of Seneca.
For more information, follow the Falls Fire 2024 Facebook page.