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Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
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Highlighted Media
Tree felling operation on the Telegraph Fire
Public Information Map with explanations 8-11
Night images on the Telephone Fire #7
The Telephone Fire started on July 22, 2024, approximately 15 miles north of Burns, Oregon, in the King Mountain area 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 fire managers. 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.
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.
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 - 08:43 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Vancouver |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 16 miles north east of Burns, Oregon |
| Incident Commander | IMT: Northwest Team 2 Incident Commander: Jason Loomis Deputy Incident Commander: John Szulc |
| Coordinates |
43° 45' 28'' Latitude
-118° 51' 42
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 820 total for Falls, Sand, & Telephone fires |
|---|---|
| Size | 53,944 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 62% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 08/15/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Grass and Understory) Tall Grass (2.5 feet) Timber (Litter and Understory) All dead fuels are in single digits and live fuels are between 70 and 90 percent across PSA (Predictive Surface Area) and FDRA (Fire Danger Rating Area). 1000 hour fuels are spot receptive and are burning easily. Single and group torching in mixed conifer likely or where significant ladder fuels exist under tree canopies. Fuels are classified as Grass-Shrub-Timber, with shrub understory and timber liter. Spotting and heavy fuels are contributing to resistance to control. In general, heavier timber fuels are on the northern portion of this incident and lighter, flashy fuels are on the southern portion. |
| Significant Events | Fire Behavior Moderate Flanking Isolated Torching Spotting Narrative: The majority of the Telephone fire has minimal fire activity, mostly consisting of smoldering and consuming of interior fuels and some interior pockets continuing to burn out. Most of the more active fire is in Division A (primarily King Mountain area and South) where crews have successfully completed firing operations over the past several shifts. Some interior unburned pockets continue to burn out providing potential torching and short range spotting under certain conditions. As fuels continue to consume and crews continue to extinguish heat fire activity will become minimal. |
| Planned Actions |
All perimeters of the Telephone Fire holding with some energy shifting to the northwest. Where resources are available, direct attack will continue with focus on northwest perimeter of the Telephone Fire. An indirect line is being constructed off of the 28 and 2830 Roads in the event current line does not hold. There remains a significant amount of patrol and mop-up on the Telephone Fire and some interior ignitions may occur to widen control lines. The lack of critical middle leadership and experienced Type 1 and T2IA crews continues to be a fireline challenge and concern. Existing road systems and changes in fuels are being evaluated on the northwest flank of the fire for direct and indirect opportunities. Cultural considerations are a major concern and discussions have occurred with tribal leadership and archeologists are being provided to mitigate some of these concerns for indirect line along the 28 Road. On the northeast part of the Telephone Fire, fire has reached King Mountain with communication sites and a historic lookout. The four National Guard crews are assigned to the Telephone Fire. Within the incident, surge resources are being identified at the division level to respond to immediate needs and bolster limited resources when such arises throughout the incident. Three Strategic Actions were developed in the ISAP for the Telephone Fire. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, major power transmission lines, timber resources, primary Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 Hours: Evacuation levels will be evaluated based on fire progression and potential threat. Powerline 12 hours: infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of the fires threat. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, timber resources, Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. Mop-up, patrol, and backhaul will continue. 24 Hours: Evacuation levels will be evaluated based on fire progression and potential threat. Powerline infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of the fires threat. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, timber resources, Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. Mop-up, patrol, and backhaul will continue. 48 hours: Evacuation levels will be evaluated based on fire progression and potential threat. Powerline infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of the fires threat. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, timber resources, Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. Mop-up, patrol, and backhaul will continue. 72 hours: Evacuation levels will be evaluated based on fire progression and potential threat. Powerline infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of the fires threat. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, timber resources, Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. Mop-up, patrol, and backhaul will continue. Powerline infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of the fires threat. Evacuation levels will be evaluated based on fire progression and potential threat. Powerline infrastructure along Hwy 20 provides power all the way into Nevada and are critical to keep out of Anticipated after 72 hours: the fires threat. Livestock, private land, primary residences, the Highway 20 corridor, timber resources, Sage-Grouse habitat, and heritage and cultural resources are all threatened values at risk. Mop-up, patrol, and backhaul will continue. |
| Remarks |
Successful transition from AK Team CIMT to NW Team 2 occurred at 0700. No reported trends in illness, injuries or accidents. 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: 53,852 acres 61% 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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