Photos by BLM

The Falls Fire has consumed over 140,000 acres of public and private lands northwest of Burns. Full suppression efforts are underway, utilizing a combination of direct, indirect, and point protection where the highest probability of success can be safely achieved.

This human-caused fire started July 10 and U.S. Forest Service fire investigators are seeking the public’s assistance with any knowledge pertinent to the cause of the incident. Send information to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov.

Recap of fire activity in the last week:

• July 16: Less spread and quieter fire behavior than expected. A southwesterly wind pushed Falls Fire up the slope of Burnt Mountain, where it encountered heavy timber and turned into a crown fire. That allowed the fire to spot over Forest Road 31, just to the east of Silvies River. 

• July 17: Substantial runs made on both the northeast and northwest corners of the fire in the afternoon. The northeast corner of the fire moved through Myrtle Creek drainage and spotted across Forest Road 31. The northwest corner made a significant run down Corral Creek, onto the ridge east of Donivan Mountain. 

• July 18-20: For three days in a row, growth on the Falls Fire was moderated by a persistent heavy smoke layer that kept wind and temperatures lower over the incident. Night and day shift operations took advantage of this opportunity to build more direct and indirect containment lines.

• July 21: The northwest corner of the Falls Fire saw some increased activity inside previously constructed dozer line. Afternoon winds were strong and erratic, shifting in multiple directions, reaching 25 miles per hour within the fire area, and lightning was observed within the Falls Fire smoke column. Structure protection task forces were in place, prepared and tested with success. A predicted lightning storm brought hundreds of strikes to the area mid-afternoon and evening. 

• July 22: The Falls Fire reached 40 percent containment. Early evening winds….  New starts in the Falls Fire area were reported throughout the day, including the Telephone Fire at King Mountain.

• July 23: Falls Fire is still at 40 percent containment. Suppression operations continued with connecting and securing containment lines, mop up, structure security and managing hot spots near the perimeter.  

The Telephone Fire reached at least 5,000 acres to the south overnight. Some Falls Fire resources shifted to this incident to work full fire suppression and structure protection. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for July 23 and 24 for southern Harney County for more thunderstorms and gusty outflow winds.  

Complex Incident Management Team 8 is managing fire logistics and suppression, including over 1,600 people and resources, for both the Falls and Telephone fires. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Incident Management Team and multiple task forces are also assigned. Their primary focus is structure protection, structure assessment, and supporting the overall operations of the incident. 

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. The entire Malheur National Forest is closed temporarily as of July 22, and evacuation notices remain in effect for portions of Grant and Harney counties.  

The support and interest from the local communities around the local fire activity has been outstanding. The structural and wildland firefighters assigned in Harney and Grant counties appreciate your kindness!