Single Publication

Falls and Telephone Fires Update for August 14, 2024 

Total Personnel Across All Fires: 1,051 

Total Resources Assigned:  28 hand crews, 36 engines, 11 bulldozers, 31 water tenders, 1 masticator, 12 skidgines 

Aerial resources assigned: One Type 1 helicopter 

Telephone Fire Quick Facts: 
Size: 53,999 
Start Date: July 22, 2024
Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR 
Containment: 65% Cause: Lightning/Natural 

Falls Fire Quick Facts:  
Size: 151,666 
Start Date: July 10, 2024
Location: 13 miles NW of Burns, OR 
Containment: 89% 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: 100% Cause: Lightning/Natural 

Priorities for Wednesday, August 14 

• Initial Attack (IA) is the highest priority to keep all new fires as small as possible. 

• Northeast portion of the Falls Fire; increasing mop up depth and spot containment. 

• Northwest portion of the Telephone Fire near Gobbler’s Knob and King Mountain; increasing mop up depth and spot containment. 

Telephone Fire: Yesterday, work to construct a shaded fuel break on the 2830 and 28 Roads neared completion. Firefighters in the southwest and west cleaned up pockets and conducted burn operations to remove unburned fuels that contribute to continued fire activity. Today, the eastern side of the fire will be monitored and patrolled. Additionally, ranchers, firefighters and cooperators will be working together to drive cattle across 395 to safer, unburned areas for grazing. Mastication on the 2830 Road continues along with work on the 28 Road shaded fuel break.  

Falls/Sand Mountain Fires: Yesterday, crews worked 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. Today, firefighters in the northeast will focus on securing the fire’s edge through burning out small pockets of unburned fuels using an unmanned aerial system in the Five Hundred Flat Area. Crews will continue felling operations to remove hazardous trees on the 37 Road. With increased containment across the fire, more of the perimeter is in patrol and monitor status. 

Weather: Temperatures are expected to be seasonable with relative humidities in the low teens. Winds will be breezy and light out of the west-southwest. Late this evening, there is a chance of thunderstorms with abundant lightning and possible gusty outflow winds. 

Evacuations: There were changes yesterday 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:  National Forest has reduced the South Area Closure. Due to control and containment measures the Malheur National Forest is able to reduce portions of the Forest previously under the South Area Closure. However, to continue protecting public health and safety, fire managers will maintain a portion of the southern part of the forest under closure due to fire activity and fire suppression operations. This closure will be effective August 6, 2024, through December 31, 2024, unless rescinded sooner. This Forest Order rescinds and replaces the previous southern area closure. A closure map and the closure order are 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