On Friday, in the northwest corner of the Falls Fire, operations will continue constructing and securing direct dozer line along FSR 4785 and an alternative contingency line on Forest Service Road 4781 Road out to Snow Mountain. Dozer work will also continue along Forest Service Road 68. Along the eastern portion of the northern flank of the fire, dozer and handline will be constructed to tie in line around Burnt Mountain. Crews will continue to hold, improve, and mop up control lines along the west and south areas of the fire. On the northeastern, just south of Myrtle Park Meadows, work will continue on the two-day old 200-acre slop-over. In the southeast corner of the fire, work will continue securing dozer line and mopping up hotspots in the Red Hill area.
QUICK FACTS
Size: 114,236 acres
Containment: 10%
Started: July 10, 2024
Total Personnel: 1,588
On Friday morning, two California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) strike teams joined OSFM task forces that are continuing structural prep and tactical patrols throughout the northern and eastern edges of the fire, building upon progress made during day shift.
Fire weather is predicted to be similar to Thursday– warm but less windy, influenced by a persistent heavy smoke layer. These conditions may moderate fire behavior and help firefighters progress with containing the fire. Temperature highs may reach 97 degrees and humidity will be low. A Heat Advisory is predicted for the area starting Saturday and extending into Monday with temperatures possibly over 100 degrees.
Fire growth on the Falls Fire was moderated by a persistent heavy smoke layer keeping wind and temperatures lower over the fire area. Night shift and day shift operations have been working in tandem to establish control lines and minimize fire growth. The fire is burning approximately 13 miles north of Burns, 11 miles southwest of Seneca, 7.5 miles south of Izee, and three miles west of Highway (Hwy) 395.
On Thursday, firefighters on night and day shifts took advantage of moderated fire behavior to make headway on new line construction and continue mop-up operations. In the northwest area of the fire, resources constructed direct line with hand crews over to Burnt Mountain. Other direct dozer line work occurred along Forest Service Road 68 to secure small spot fires. A tree felling module worked along Forest Service Road 68 in preparation for planned tactical burnout operations intended to reinforce control lines by removing unburned fuel between the fire edge and control lines. Fire crews and equipment continued to establish control line along the northern flank of the fire where conditions allowed for safe operations. In the northeast corner, the two spot fires that started yesterday on the east side of Forest Service Road 31, just south of Myrtle Park Meadows, resulted in about a 200-acre slop-over. Crews and dozers worked to build line to tie it back into Forest Service Road 31. Mop-up operations have begun on the slop-over. At the southeastern corner of the fire, dozer line construction is nearly complete and holding and mop-up operations are underway. Control lines along much of the south and west portions of the fire, along Forest Service Road 43, continue to hold firm as mop-up operations continue. Throughout the northern and eastern edges of the fire, OSFM task forces continued structural prep and tactical patrols, and built upon progress made during day shift.
In conjunction with wildland resources, Oregon State Fire Marshal crews are providing structural protection around the clock to the communities of Izee, Silvies Ranch, Seneca, Lone Pine, and the surrounding areas. These crews are using a combination of tactics to minimize the risk to structures. Structure crews support wildland operations during construction of dozer line, strategic firing operations. They perform structural triage and surface prep. Surface prep includes mitigation tactics such as clearing away receptive fuels and relocating flammable items to areas outside the preparation perimeter. Additional structure crews are conducting point protection of homes, tactical patrols along the edge of the fire and expanding scouted areas.
Evacuation notices remain in effect in Grant and Harney Counties. For the most accurate evacuation information, please visit the Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map, or the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page.
The Malheur National Forest issued a fire area closure. A detailed map and additional information about the fire area closure are available here. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area.
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.