Malheur National Forest reduces fire closures

By on Friday, August 30th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY AND HINES (Released by the U.S. forest Service)-Malheur National Forest officials have further reduced the Falls and Telephone Fire Area Closure. This closure area reduction will provide access to National Forest lands no longer impacted by wildfire or wildfire suppression and repair efforts. Portions of the area around the fires will remain in a closure to protect public health and safety as mop up and repair efforts continue.

This closure will be effective August 29, 2024, through December 31, 2024, unless rescinded sooner. This Forest Order, Malheur Falls and Telephone Fire Closure (06-04-00-24-24), rescinds and replaces the previous Malheur South End Falls & Telephone Fire Area Closure #2 (06-04-00-24-23).

Falls Fire Area Description:

  • Starting at the intersection of Forest Service Road (FSR) 31 and FSR 3120, heading north and west along FSR 31 to the intersection with FSR 3100-844.
  • Follow FSR 3140-0844 north to the intersection with FSR 3140-086  and along FSR 3140-086 to the intersection with FSR 3140-081.
  • Follow FSR 3140-081 until it intersects FSR 3140-060, Follow FSR 3140-060 to the Forest boundary.
  • Follow FSR 3140-060 to the Forest boundary. 
  • Follow the Forest boundary South and west to the intersection with FSR 3145.
  • Follow FSR 3145 to Paine Creek intersection, follow Paine creek south to FSR 3765-570.
  • Follow FSR 3765-570 to the intersection of FSR 3765.
  • Follow FSR 3765  to the intersection with FSR 3100-864.
  • Follow FSR 3100-864 to the intersection with FSR 31.
  • Follow FSR 31 north to FSR 3170.
  • Follow FSR 3170 to the intersection of FSR 3180-655.
  • Follow  FSR 3180-655 south to FSR 3180.
  • Follow 3180 south to the intersection with FSR 3160.
  • Follow FSR 3160 to the Forest boundary, south and west along Forest boundary until it intersects Rail Creek.
  • South along Rail Creek until it intersects the eastern Forest boundary, follow the eastern border south until it intersects FSR 4310.
  • Follow FSR 4310 to the intersection of FSR 4781.
  • Follow FSR 4781 to FSR 4781-951.  
  • South along FSR 4781-951 to FSR 4357.
  • West along FSR 4357 to FSR 43.
  • Follow FSR 43 south and east to the intersection with FSR 4340-200.
  • Follow FSR 4340-200 to the intersection with FSR 4340.
  • Follow FSR 4340 to the intersection with FSR 4334.
  • Follow FSR 4332 to intersection with FSR 4330.
  • Follow FSR 4330 to intersection with FSR 43.
  • Follow FSR 43 to the Forest boundary, and along the Forest boundary to the intersection with FSR 3110-170.
  • Follow FSR 3110-170 to the intersection with FSR 3110.
  • Follow FSR 3110 to intersection with FSR3110-230.
  • Follow FSR 3110-230 to intersection with FSR 3120.
  • Follow FSR 3120 to intersection with FSR 31 which is the initiation point of the closure area.

Forest Service Roads 43 and 47 will be open to thru traffic only. Travel by vehicle or foot off FSR 43 or 37 is prohibited within the closure area.

The Following Forest Service roads will remain closed to thru traffic: 4781, 4357, 3180, 31, 3765, 3145, 3100-084 and 3140-060.

Telephone Fire Area Description:

  • Starting at the intersection of Forest boundary and FSR2850-953 follow FSR 2850-953 to the intersection with FSR 2850-951.
  • Follow FSR 2850-951 to the intersection with FSR 2850.
  • Follow FSR 2850 to the intersection with FSR 28.
  • Follow FSR 28 to the intersection with FSR 2820.
  • Follow FSR 2820 to the intersection with FSR 2820-499.
  • Follow FSR 2820-499 to the intersection with 2820-421.
  • Follow FSR 2820-421 to the intersection with FSR2820-417.
  • Follow FSR 2820-417 to the intersection with the Forest Boundary.
  • South and west along the Forest Boundary to the intersection with FSR 3935.
  • Follow FSR 3935 to the intersection with FSR 3935-600.
  • Follow FSR 3935-600 to the intersection with FSR 2820-630.
  • Follow FSR 2820-630 to the intersection with FSR 2820.
  • Follow FSR 2820 the intersection with FSR 2820-027.
  • Follow FSR 2820-027 to the forest boundary and then west and north along the forest boundary to the origin point at the intersection with FSR 2850-953.

A detailed map of the closure is included and can also be viewed on the Malheur National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur. 

Elkhorn Media Group