Falls Fire estimated at 114,236 acres on Friday
By Logan Bagett on Friday, July 19th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
GRANT/HARNEY COUNTIES – Follow this story for the latest Falls Fire information for Friday, July 19th.
Click here for the full evacuation map:
UPDATE – 7/19 – (From Falls Fire 2024)
Please join us for our latest public meeting to learn more about the Falls Fire’s current status.
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: The Grant County Regional Airport – 72000 Airport Road, John Day, OR 97845. In the large conference room.
Attend to receive a full fire briefing, ask questions and hear from local officials. The event will be live streamed.
UPDATE – 7/19 at 11:37 a.m. – (From FEMA)
FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Falls Fire in Oregon
BOTHELL, Wash. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Falls Fire burning in Harney and Grant counties, Oregon.
The state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Deputy Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 7:34 p.m. PT. He determined that the Falls Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the fourth FMAG declared in 2024 to help fight Oregon wildfires.
At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Burns and Silvies. The fire also threatened state highways, cell towers, rangeland, agricultural assets and irrigation and utilities infrastructure in the area.
FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair, and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials, and supplies. This authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
In addition to the firefighting funds authorized under this FMAG, another $985,111 will be available to Oregon through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire for the mitigation of future wildfires and related hazards, such as flood after fire or erosion. Some eligible wildfire project types include defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction, and hazardous fuels reduction. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 authorizes FEMA to provide HMGP Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a designated area.
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UPDATE – 7/19 at 10:30 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
Callout Map
Falls Fire July 19, 2024
UPDATE – 7/19 at 9:23 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
Fire growth on the Falls Fire was moderated by a persistent heavy smoke layer keeping wind and temperatures lower over the fire area. Night shift and day shift operations have been working in tandem to establish control lines and minimize fire growth. The fire is burning approximately 13 miles north of Burns, 11 miles southwest of Seneca, 7.5 miles south of Izee, and 3 miles west of Highway (Hwy) 395.
Yesterday, firefighters on night and day shift took advantage of moderated fire behavior to make headway on new line construction and continue mop-up operations. In the northwest area of the fire, resources were able to construct direct line with hand crews over to Burnt Mountain. Other direct dozer line work occurred along FSR 68 to secure small spot fires. A tree felling module worked along FSR 68 in preparation for planned tactical burnout operations intended to reinforce control lines by removing unburned fuel between the fire edge and control lines. Fire crews and equipment continued to establish control line along the northern flank of the fire where conditions allowed for safe operations. In the northeast corner, the two spot fires that started yesterday on the east side of FSR 31, just south of Myrtle Park Meadows, resulted in about a 200 acre slop-over. Crews and dozers worked to build line to tie it back into FSR 31. Mop-up operations have begun on the slop-over. At the southeastern corner of the fire, dozer line construction is nearly complete and holding and mop-up operations are underway. Control lines along much of the south and west portions of the fire, along FSR 43, continue to hold firm as mop-up operations continue. Throughout the northern and eastern edges of the fire OSFM task forces continued structural prep and tactical patrols, and building upon progress made during day shift.
In conjunction with wildland resources, Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) crews are providing structural protection around the clock to the communities of Izee, Silvies Ranch, Seneca, Lone Pine, and the surrounding areas. These crews are utilizing a combination of tactics to minimize the risk to structures. Structure crews support wildland operations during construction of dozer line, strategic firing operations. They perform structural triage, and surface prep. Surface prep includes mitigation tactics such as clearing away receptive fuels and relocating flammable items to areas outside the preparation perimeter. Additional structure crews are conducting point protection of homes, tactical patrols along the edge of the fire and expanding scouted areas.
Today, in the northwest corner of the fire, operations will continue constructing and securing direct dozer line along FSR 4785, as well as an alternative contingency line on FSR 4781 Road out to Snow Mountain. Dozer work will also continue along FSR 68. Along the eastern portion of the northern flank of the fire, dozer and handline will be constructed with the objective of tying in line around Burnt Mountain. Crews will continue to hold, improve, and mop-up control lines along the westerly and southern areas of the fire. On the northeastern portion of the fire, just south of Myrtle Park Meadows, work will continue on the two-day old 200 acre slop-over. In the southeast corner of the fire, work will continue on securing dozer line and mopping-up hotspots in the Red Hill area.
This morning, two California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) strike teams joined OSFM task forces continued structural prep and tactical patrols throughout the northern and eastern edges of the fire, building upon progress made during day shift.
Today, fire weather is predicted to be similar to yesterday – warm but less windy, being influence by a persistent heavy smoke layer. These conditions may moderate fire behavior and help firefighters to make progress on containing the fire. Temperature highs may reach 97 degrees and humidity will be low. A Heat Advisory is predicted for the area starting Saturday and extending into Monday with temperatures possibly over 100 degrees.
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 a fire area closure. 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.
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/
InciWeb:https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-falls-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
UPDATE – 7/19 at 7:20 a.m. – (From Falls Fire 2024)
Falls Fire Morning Quick Facts:
Acreage: 114,236
Containment: 10%
Total Personnel: 1,484
Hand crews and dozers worked on building control lines on the northern and eastern parts of the fire last night.
The work done by the night operation will continue today building and improving control lines on the north and northwest parts of the fire. Firefighters will also seek locations to add more control lines on the northeast corner of the fire.
UPDATE – 7/18: The Grant County Court officially declared a local disaster due to wildfire activity impacting Grant County.
UPDATE – 7/18 at 2:32 p.m. (From Grant County Emergency Management)
-UPDATE: The area south of County Road 63, Southeast to northern Silvies Valley and south to FS 17 [is now under a Level 3 GO NOW! evacuation].
All areas previously in evacuation Level 1 are now in Level 2. See map below:
Click here for the full evacuation map:
