A retardant drop on the Falls Fire, July 10.

Photo by RICK VETTER

As of Tuesday, July 16 at 12 noon: The Falls Fire has consumed over 85,000 acres of public and private lands northwest of Burns. This human-caused fire started July 10 and remains under investigation.

• Initial attack resources attempted direct approaches early on but were challenged by the terrain and accessibility to the eastern side of the fire.

• By July 12 the fire had grown to 4,500 acres. 

• On July 13, afternoon and evening winds caused erratic and rapid spread to the east, toward Highway 395, pushing the fire to 55,000 acres. 

• On July 14, a large portion of the main head held to the west of Silvies River. Growth to the north/northeast and southeast progressed, albeit much slower than the day prior. 

• July 15 was another big day of fire spread with afternoon, southwesterly winds pushing the fire up the Myrtle Creek drainage. A late afternoon thunderstorm, changed the fire’s direction, turning and moving it southeast toward Forest Service Road 31, Highway 395, and Idlewild until late in the evening. The fire also challenged anchor points in the northwest corner. Firefighters, on both day and night shifts, lined spot fires and continued to hold the northwestern and southern perimeters of the fire along Forest Service Road 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 Forest Service Road 3110 area. 

Full suppression efforts are underway, utilizing a combination of direct, indirect, and point protection where the highest probability of success can be safely achieved. 

Complex Incident Management Team 8 is managing fire logistics and suppression, including over 900 people and resources. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Incident Management Team and four task forces are also assigned. Their primary focus is structure protection, structure assessment, and supporting the overall operations of the incident. They will be working on Lone Pine Road, Hines Logging Road, east of Highway 395, and west of Hwy 395 toward Silvies Ranch. 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. 

Harney County Emergency Management and Harney County Sheriff’s Office are closely coordinating on evacuation notices and procedures, with levels 1, 2 and 3 enacted in various parts of the fire vicinity. All entities continue to work hand-in-hand with local agencies, staff and firefighting ground and air resources. Incident Base Camp is set up at the Harney County Fairgrounds, and night shift workers are getting daytime respite and Burns High School and Hines Middle School.

There are numerous daily fire progression details, area closures, detailed evacuation maps and notices, contacts, and other important specifics to know:

• Falls Fire info on Inciweb: https://bit.ly/4cC9fQf 

• Falls Fire info on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Wmq4J6 

• Evacuation info through Genasys Protect: https://protect.genasys.com/search – use the app or the online site for current evacuation updates. 

• Evacuation status map through Harney County Emergency Management: https://bit.ly/FallsFireEvac

• Evacuation center for impacted Harney and Grant residents: Grant County High School, 911 S Canyon Blvd in John Day. Large animals are welcome at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 411 NW Bridge St. in John Day.

• Clean air shelter: The Hub, 17 S Alder in Burns. Call for hours – (541) 573-6024.

• Fire information is physically posted at Safeway in Burns, Hines Truck Stop, Hines Market, Hines Post Office, Chevron, Burns Post Office, Shell, Seneca Post Office, Bear Valley Market, BLM, U.S. Forest Service, & Burns Paiute Tribe Reservation.

• If you don’t use the internet, and/or if you need information about the fire, direction of spread, proximity to your remote private land, etc.: call (541) 208-4370 or email 2024.falls@firenet.gov

• If you need help evacuating, knowing what resources are available, with livestock situations, etc.: call (541) 589-5579.

• The Malheur National Forest has a widespread closure order in place – including popular forest campgrounds and access routes – to protect public health and safety. Go to https://bit.ly/3W6c0lP to see a map and description of the closure boundary or call the fire information line to arrange a hard copy. 

• Other area and road closures include Highway 395 N – intermittently, in various locations between Seneca and Burns, and all of Grant County Road 63 (aka The Izee Highway). 

• A community meeting was held Sunday, July 14, at the Community Center in Burns, and a second meeting was held Tuesday, July 16, in Seneca. Recordings of those meetings are here: https://bit.ly/3Wmq4J6. 

• Air quality information and support: Harney County Health Department, (541) 573-2271.

Fire danger is EXTREME, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is 4, and public use restrictions are in place throughout Harney County. Contact your local Bureau of Land Management at (541) 573-4519 or U.S. Forest Service office at (541) 573-4300 for details. You can also go online to www.facebook.com/BurnsInteragencyFireZone.  

Thank you to the people, businesses, agencies, and organizations coordinating on all levels – it truly takes a village, and we are better together. Stay safe out there!