Falls Fire updates for Tuesday, July 16th
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
HARNEY/GRANT COUNTY – Find the latest information regarding the Falls Fire here:
UPDATE at 4:18 p.m. – (From Grant County Emergency Management)
Updated Falls fire notification map, as of 4pm on 7-16-2024. Section Southeast of Seneca is now at Level 2.
See map below:
UPDATE 7/16 at 12:45 p.m. – (From Grant County Emergency Management)
The closure of 395C between Seneca and Burns is being modified. ODOT will move the northern closure point, south, to Mile Post 44 on 395C. From there cars will be piloted to Hwy 20/395 junction. The change is planned to take place by 1pm. Please check TripCheck to ensure the changes have been made.
UPDATE 7/16 at 12:44 p.m. – (From ODOT)
US-395, MP 44 — 60: Pilot cars are escorting traffic on U.S. 395 between Seneca and the U.S. 20 junction in Burns due to a wildfire. Use caution; expect delays. Full closures are possible. Do not follow GPS directions or detour on county or forest roads due to ongoing fire activity. TripCheck.com for updates.
UPDATE 7/16 at 11:34 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
July 16, 2024.
UPDATE 7/16 at 9:46 a.m. – (From Canyon City Post Office)
SENECA POST OFFICE- All mail for the 97873 office is not going out for delivery and will be available for pickup at the Seneca post office. Anyone evacuated and at staying in John Day may contact the Canyon City post office at 541-575-1306 and arrange for your mail to be held in town.
UPDATE 7/16 at 9:08 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
The Falls Fire experienced significant growth again yesterday due to hot and dry conditions and strong outflow winds from passing thunderstorms. The fire is now estimated at 85,348 acres with 0% containment. The fire is burning approximately 13.5 miles north of Burns, 15 miles southeast of Seneca, and 3 miles west of Highway (Hwy) 395. Highway 395 remains closed from milepost 60 north to Seneca.
A community meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. at Seneca City Hall tonight, July 16. Fire managers intend to host the meeting in person and stream it live on the Malheur National Forest and Falls Fire 2024 Facebook pages. If fire activity or fire-related road closures makes it unsafe or unpractical for fire managers to travel from Burns to Seneca, the meeting will only be live streamed on Facebook. The meeting will include time for questions.
Yesterday afternoon the fire grew significantly in the northeast corner. Initially, the fire grew northerly toward Forest Service Road (FSR) 31 and it then shifted southeasterly toward the FSR 3110 pushed by strong, shifting winds. The fire also challenged anchor points in the northwest corner and southeast corners of the fire. Firefighters, on both day and night shifts, lined spot fires and continued to hold the northwestern and southern perimeters of the fire along the FSR 43. Firefighters held the fire to minimal growth on the southeastern corner near Lake Creek and worked to establish dozer control lines to tie into the Silvies River area to the east toward the FSR 3110 area. One OSFM Structure Task Forces worked on the fire throughout the night to triage and provide structure protection. Firefighters continued to scout for opportunities to establish additional control lines.
Aerial resources, including three helicopters, two cranes, six single-engine air tankers (SEATs), two large air tankers (LATs), and two very large air tankers (VLATs) helped to slow the fires growth, and supported firefighters as they made progress securing containment lines.
Today, the fire is predicted to be very active with elevated rates of spread. Firefighters will work to construct additional control lines and to hold the fire along established control lines using both aerial and ground resources. Firefighters will continue to scout for future control lines to the north and east.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Blue Incident Management Team and seven task forces have been assigned to the fire. The task forces are structural firefighters from Oregon and Washington. They include Washington County, Lincoln County, Douglas County, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Clackamas County, Snohomish County, and Thurston County. Their primary focus will be structure protection, structure assessment, and supporting the overall mission of the Falls Fire. Fire activity in the area remains extreme and certain areas may not be safe for assessment. As weather and fire behavior allow, OSFM Task Forces will assess cabins, ranches, and structures in and around the fire. Crews are documenting damage or lost structures using GPS software. They will be working on Lone Pine Road, Hines Logging Road, east of Highway 395, and west of Hwy 395 toward Silvies Ranch.
The incident command team continues to increase the number of resources working on the fire and to build greater capacity for fire suppression efforts. Currently there are 891 personnel on the fire; this includes 19 20-person hand crews, 41 fire engines, 13 bulldozers, and 14 water tenders.
Today’s predicted weather calls for dry and very unstable conditions with temperatures near 90 degrees and humidity around 15%. Winds will generally be from the west-southwest at 5-8 mph. There is a chance of thunderstorms with gusty winds up to 30 mph.
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 here: https://tinyurl.com/3zst4sjy, or the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423.
The Malheur National Forest issued an updated fire area closure Sunday, July 14. A detailed map and additional information about the fire area closure are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1188914. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area.
Fire Restrictions are in effect across Oregon; Know Before You Go, and use extreme caution while recreating in these hot and dry conditions. #OnlyYouCanPreventWildfires
UPDATE 7/16 at 7:20 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
Falls Fire Morning Quick Facts:
Acreage: 85,338
Containment: 0%
Total Personnel: 891
(From ODOT ) – ODOT CORRECTION – U.S. 395 is closed between milepost 25, in Seneca, to milepost 60, 7 miles north of the junction with U.S. 20 in Burns, due to a wildfire. Travelers are advised to stay on state highways as county and Forest Service roads will be hazardous with fire activity. Avoid the area and check TripCheck.com for the latest road status updates. Expect extended closure.
(From Grant County Emergency Management Coordinator Eric Bush) – Falls Fire updates for Grant County:
-The Izee Hwy, aka: Grant County Road 63 is being closed to all but local and emergency fire
traffic.
-Our evacuation shelter has now moved to Grant Union High School in John Day. There will still be the ability to accommodate large animals or dry camping at the Fairgrounds for persons impacted by the
evacuations.
-Hwy 395 is now closed 5 miles north of Seneca, south to Hwy 20.
Click the link below for the detailed evacuation map:
Tune in to 92.7 & 99.1 KZHC and 94.5 KJDY & News102 for crucial updates.
CURRENT EVACUATION NOTICES WITHIN HARNEY AND GRANT COUNTIES:
𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝟑: 𝐆𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐖, 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 West of Hwy 395 from Poison Creek to Silvies Valley South of Jump Creek and Crooked Creek Meadows (aka Forest Road 37) East of Emigrant Creek and Forest Service 41 (in sections) Extends south toward Burns, estimated 8-10
𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝟐: 𝐁𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓 East of Highway 395 N between Highway 20 and Silvies Valley West of Highway 395 and Forest Service Boundary (Grant Co) South and East of Forest Road 63 and Big Flat (Grant Co) East of Forest Road 41 2 Miles North of Burns
𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝟏: 𝐁𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 Areas surrounding the Level 2 Evacuation Zones; this level is a precautionary level for residents to have awareness, monitor the situation and make preparations should the fire and evacuation levels change.
The City of Burns, City of Hines, and Burns Paiute Tribe are under advisory as an abundance of caution to monitor the situation should the fire change course.
Currently, it is expected that the fire will move more in an eastern direction.
