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Week in Review Video Update: Falls & Telephone Fires 2024
Public Information Map with explanations 8-11
August 11 Operations Briefing Falls & Telephone Fires
The Falls Fire started on July 10, 2024, approximately 25 miles northwest of Burns, Oregon, on the Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest. The Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Fire Marshal are working in partnership with Incident Management Teams.
Initial attack resources attempted direct tactics early on but were challenged by the terrain and accessibility to the eastern side of the fire. Full suppression efforts are being implemented utilizing a combination of direct, indirect, and point protection where the highest probability of success can be safely achieved. Firefighters continue to establish firelines and hose lays, working in conjunction with aerial resources.
A full-suppression strategy is being used for the fire, while insuring to minimize risks to responders and the public. The fire was human-caused and remains under investigation.
Evacuation Information
For the most accurate evacuation information, please visit the following sites:
Harney County Sheriff's Office Evacuation Map
Grant County Emergency Management Facebook Page
Closures
The Malheur National Forest has a closure order in place. To protect public health and safety, fire managers have closed the area around the fire due to fire activity and fire suppression operations.
Campground closures include:
- Emigrant Creek Campground
- Falls Campground
- Yellowjacket Campground
- Delintment Lake Campground
Malheur National Forest Detailed Closure Map. For more Forest-related information, visit the Malheur National Forest webpage.
For up to date Oregon Road Conditions.
Air Quality Fire and Smoke Map
Hunting Information
Hunting and Fire Danger in Oregon - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Webpage and ODFW Facebook Page.
Hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers: What to know about wildfires. Wildfire season is hitting Oregon hard. Here's what hunters and anglers should know:
"As early season hunters know, dry conditions and the associated wildfire danger can have a large impact on your hunting opportunity. Check below for resources for finding fire closures and restrictions, and for ODFW's policy on tag refunds and restoration of preference points."
You can check for the latest fire updates and closures using the links on the ODFW webpage. This page will also describe ODFW policies on refunding tags and reinstating preference points. You can also check out the ODFW Active Large Fires and Wildlife Management Units
| Current as of | Mon, 08/12/2024 - 08:42 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Human |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 20 miles NW of Burns |
| Incident Commander | IMT: Northwest Team 2 Incident Commander: Jason Loomis Deputy Incident Commander: John Szulc |
| Coordinates |
43° 51' 11'' Latitude
-119° 25' 36
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 1135 total for Falls, Sand, & Telephone fires |
|---|---|
| Size | 150,320 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 81% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 08/20/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Grass and Understory) Tall Grass (2.5 feet) Timber (Litter and Understory) Fuel moistures (live and dead) remain at near record lows, with 1000 hour fuels near 10%, and 100 hour fuels below 8%. Fine dead fuel moisture (FDFM) is between 3 and 5 (shaded) percent. Live fuels are moving down below 100%, so are available for combustion. The majority of recent growth has been to the north through timbered areas, best represented by timber understory and timber litter fuel models. New fire starts to the northwest and north of the incident have/or are merging into the main incident. Southern portions of the fire and the East and West flanks have held for the last few shifts. Southeastern portions of the fire are dominated by grass and shrub. |
| Significant Events | Fire Behavior: Active Flanking Isolated Torching Short-range Spotting Narrative: Fire is spreading by backing, flanking, short uphill and wind driven runs, where wind / slope/fuels align. Crews are still working spot fires across the 31 Rd / shaded fuel break. Spotting is predominately short range in grass/brush fuels, and longer range in timber (1/4 to 1/3 mile) with column under unstable conditions, where torching is able to loft embers higher. Some spread of fire is on the flanks, with lower ROS/FL. Fire environment is still conducive to moderate to large fire growth with steady winds, high gusts, very hot and dry, and unstable air mass. |
| Planned Actions |
Firing operations will continue on the NE corner of the fire to secure primary control lines. The lack of critical middle leadership and experienced Type 1 and T2IA crews continues to be a fireline challenge and concern with such resources being rationed to areas of greatest need. The current burning operation is being conducted by a loan lease T2IA from the district with multiple days needed to burnout 3-4 miles of line. Mop-up, patrol and backhaul continue on the remainder of the incident. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Fire behavior expected to stay active this afternoon/evening in timbered fuel beds along E - SE lines (especially in DIV R where fire edge is getting near 31 rd. shaded fuel break). Some moderation in behavior will occur after midnight, however with poor recoveries at higher elevations due to thermal belt forecasted, fire behavior will remain active going into the night. Areas in DIV R with recent activity will be active again with fire pushing towards fuel break treatments along the 31 Rd. Fire will still be active in fuel beds with heavy dead /down component, with some Head/ backing/flanking fire depending on wind slope alignment. Spotting is likely, both short and long range, depending on the spotting source (brush, reprod, torching trees, rolling materials, etc.). Spotting PIO should lower going into the evening due to RH's rising going into the night. 24 hours: Moderating fire weather conditions, with near normal temperatures and RH values. Chances of showers and Thunderstorms. Gusty afternoon winds and dry fuels will still be conducive to active fire behavior where fire is unchecked. Expect interior pockets to burn out and primary spread to be through flanking and backing with isolated torching and short range spotting possible in the afternoon hours. Fuels are very receptive still and any spot fire has potential to grow quickly and be resistant to control. 48 hours: Near normal temperatures and RH values and potential for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Gusty afternoon winds and dry fuels will still be conducive to active fire behavior where fire is unchecked. Expect interior pockets to burn out and primary spread to be through flanking and backing with isolated torching and short range spotting possible int he afternoon hours. Fuels are very receptive still and any spot fire has potential to grow quickly and be resistant to control. 72 hours: Fire behavior is expected to continue to decrease over the fire area as fuels continue to consume and heat is extinguished. Areas of most recent fire activity will still have potential for fire spread primarily through creeping, backing, and flanking with potential torching and short range spotting.
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| Remarks |
No reported trends in illness, injuries or accidents, team will be monitoring cumulative fatigue in the coming days. Threat to critical infrastructure and values is diminishing with moderating weather and successful operations. Resources assigned and under the delegation for NW 2 include support to: Falls: includes Whiskey Mountain and Sand Fires* Parasol: 485 acres 100% containment Poison Creek: 1,060 acres 100% containment Ritter: 461 acres 100% containment Upper Pine: 1,088 acres 100% containment Telephone: 53,944 acres 62% containment *Cost for Whiskey Mountain and Sand Fires are monitored and tracked separate from the Falls Incident. |
| Weather Concerns | Seasonably dry conditions continued with daytime temperatures in the 80s and relative humidity in the teens. Afternoon winds were generally out of the northwest with local gusts to 20 mph. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms were observed around the region. Hot and dry conditions continue on Sunday with terrain driven winds becoming northwesterly in the afternoon with local gusts to 20 mph. |
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