Daily Update for Falls Fire and Telephone Fire for July 27, 2024

HARNEY AND GRANT COUNTIES-Falls Fire Quick Facts:
Size: 141,989 Start Date: July 10, 2024 Location: 13 Miles NW of Burns, OR
Containment: 57% Total Personnel: 1,492 Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Structures Triaged: Residences: 386; Commercial: 119 Outbuildings: 760
Resources Assigned: 43 hand crews, 74 engines, 23 bulldozers, 33 water tenders
Aerial resources available to the fire: 2 helicopters assigned
Telephone Fire Quick Facts:
Size: 15,190 Start Date: July 22, 2024 Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR
Containment: 0% Total Personnel: Staffed by Falls Fire personnel Cause: Lightning/Natural
New Fire Activity Quick Facts:
Whiskey Mountain: 2,565 acres; Cow Creek: 85 acres; Sand: 2,733 acres; Parasol: 353 acres; Poison: 39.6
A Community Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 28 at 3 pm at the Seneca City Hall with updates on the Falls,
Telephone and other fires in the area.
Fire Summary: On Friday, an inversion kept haze and smoke over the Falls, Telephone and other smaller fires in the
area. Heavy smoke created unhealthy air quality through the day. An inversion reduces additional heat to a fire,
giving firefighters the chance to work directly on the fire, reducing fire spread.
The Telephone Fire was very active Friday. The fire crossed FSR28 and pushed to the southeast at Pujade Rd and the
Cows Creek area. The Falls Fire held steady with minimal changes in spite of afternoon winds and extremely dry
fuels. The most significant activity during the last few days has been new starts due to lighting and high winds
associated with thunderstorms. Evacuation levels remain in place due to fire activity on the Telephone Fire and
smaller starts in the area.
Falls Fire: Over the past 24 hours, the fire experienced minimal fire activity. On Friday, no growth was reported on
the southern portion of the fire. The team used infrared (IR) to identify and address areas of heat as well as along
the west side. Firefighters focused on containment and mop up operations. Crews worked hard to hold existing line
and ensure the fire stays in place. Westerly winds pushed the Whiskey Fire, burning on the western side of the Falls
Fire, back into the Falls’ perimeter. Crews utilized the road system and contingency lines, previously constructed for
potential threats, as defensive features to wrap the fire into the Falls Fire footprint. Along the northwest corner,
firefighters continued mop up to improve the fireline. Westerly winds allowed crews to go direct and pushed the fire
back onto itself. This work is in place to protect the community of Izze and other local resources.
Along the northeast portion of the fire, hotshot crews worked with the support of dozers and water dropping aircraft
to navigate the challenging terrain and other geographic features. Crews spent the day stitching together handline
and roadways, making progress towards completing control lines along the northeast and eastern edge.
OSFM crews also continued to patrol the area to the NE of the Falls Fire near Silvies Ranch and throughout the
Highway 395 corridor. This work continued overnight, with crews continuously patrolling, assisting wildland partners,
and addressing structural protection needs.

Saturday, crews will continue improving the work completed on the south end of the Falls Fire with mop up and
holding. Work on the Whiskey Mountain Fire includes prep of the FSR43 for possible firing operations.
On the Sand Fire, crews fought difficult terrain and have held the fire along FSR3160. Ground crews were assisted by
air resources and made steady progress on Friday. Resources worked to wrap the fire into the Falls Fire utilizing
geographic and strategic features to contain the fire. Firing operations are planned for Saturday.
The Parasol Fire had no new growth on Friday and crews secured dozer line around its perimeter. The fire remains at
approximately 393 acres. The nearby Poison Fire, which sits in more challenging terrain grew to about 39 acres.
Firefighters were able to go direct due to the inversion. Air resources were engaged and assisted with suppression
efforts on both Parasol and Poison. This area also had several small additional starts on Friday, which were mitigated
as they were identified. On Saturday, OSFM resources will be extending operations to the east of these fires,
surveying and prepping additional structures. They will be rechecking and strengthening the substantial work that
has been completed in structural areas over the last several weeks. Crews will continue to reinforce containment line
and will employ indirect and direct opportunities to get line around the entire fire.
Telephone Fire: The fire continued to have active fire behavior on Friday with running, torching and spotting
observed. The fire is currently burning in East Canyon. The most significant spot fire, located to the northeast of the
main fire, is approximately 20 acres. Wildland crews established a dozer line and will continue to use firing tactics
today to remove fuels ahead of the active fire. Structure crews also expanded surveys, wrapped up preparations on
structures and provided protection to buildings east of Highway 395 and along the southern edge of the Telephone
Fire. Wildland and structural crews remained actively engaged overnight. Saturday, firefighters are working to secure
line along the 28 Road, handling slop over and mop up. To the east of the 28 Road, crews are holding and preparing
for the north wind expected later Saturday.
Today, OSFM crews will continue to coordinate with wildland resources to protect structure and focus efforts on
keeping fire away from populated area to the south and east. Crews will also be assessing and preparing structures
along the east side of FSR28.
The OSFM California resources have been demobilized due to increased wildfire activity within their own state. They
have been replaced by two Task Forces from Utah. Saturday will be the last assigned day for all OSFM resources, as
structural protection needs have been reduced thanks to the cooperative efforts of OSFM and wildland crews. The
remaining OSFM Task Forces and the Blue Incident Management Team will be demobilizing Sunday morning. As of
last night, OSFM crews have surveyed 386 residential structures, 686 outbuildings and 119 commercial structures.
This means that these locations have been identified, assessed, and prep work has been completed wherever
necessary, ensuring the best possible structural package for remaining resources.
As of Saturday morning, the Alaska Incident Management Team assumed command of the Ritter Fire, located
approximately 30 miles east of Burns near Clear Creek in the Stinking Water Mountains. Two Hotshot crews are
working on the southeast corner to establish containment line in advance of expected winds.
Weather: Smoky conditions will continue through the morning Saturday with poor visibility. An inversion layer will
stick around today and is expected to lift by early afternoon. Temperatures will remain similar to Friday and will stay
in the mid-80’s. Skies will generally be clear by afternoon. Diurnal northwesterly winds will transition to the north,
bringing in a weak disturbance this afternoon and wind gusts between 20-25 mph are anticipated across the fire
area.
Evacuations: Evacuations remain in place in both Grant and Harney Counties and have expanded to include Level 3
evacuations due to the Telephone, Parasol and Poison Fires. For the most accurate evacuation information, please

visit the Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map here: https://tinyurl.com/3zst4sjy, or the Grant County Emergency
Management Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423.
Closures: Due to active wildfires compounded by extremely unfavorable weather conditions, limited firefighting
resources and County Resources, Malheur National Forest officials have temporarily closed lands within the Malheur
National Forest.
Investigation: 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 on the Malheur National Forest. Please submit any information that could
assist fire investigation efforts to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov.
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
Smoke Outlooks: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook

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Elkhorn Media Group