Submitted photo

Over 1,000 firefighters and support resources, including your local Burns Interagency Fire Zone staff and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, continue to be busy with wildfires large and small across Harney and southern Grant counties. In these extreme conditions, fire leaders move crews to high priority areas as quickly as possible. Resources are spread thin, across the entire northwest region, which is experiencing historic fire conditions. 

Recap of fire activity in the last week:

July 31 – On the east side of the Telephone Fire, small-scale burning operations were completed to the east around the Poujade area. There was also success in continued work from both the north and the south to create line to tie into the Upper Pine Fire footprint and secure the area. Line was fully completed around the northeast corner of the Falls fire, designed to protect Seneca, Silvies Ranch, and the 395 corridor. The Ritter Fire was declared 100 percent contained.

August 1 – High temps, dry conditions and an overall unstable atmosphere made way for visible growth on the Telephone Fire as it a pushed across the 2820 Road to the northwest, toward King Mountain and Gobbler’s Knob. Oregon State Fire Marshal’s reassigned four structural task forces to the incident, with two arriving that night and two the following day. There was also a push to the northeast toward Muddy and Currier Creeks and Miller Reservoir. Falls Fire gained some ground as well, toward the Sand Fire area, but remained with the 31 Road contingency line. Four Oregon National Guard hand crews arrived to assist with the firefighting efforts in the area. 

August 2 – The Telephone Fire grew by 4,500 acres, mainly in the northwest corner and the interior of the northeast corner, within existing line. Small-scale ignition operations brought containment lines towards the Upper Pine Fire footprint, successfully establishing an anchor for the incident. Structural task forces worked along the northwest corner of the fire, at King Mountain where they prepped and wrapped communication equipment with fire resistant materials, and along the Purdy and 2820 roads. The Falls Fire grew by 1,400 acres, merging with the Sand fire to the north.

August 3 – Despite a weather system that came in with dry lightning and down drafts, no overall growth was detected on the Telephone Fire. The area received 0.1 to 0.2 inch overnight, which helped to moderate fuels, slow fire progression, and support firefighters getting a foot hold. A new fire near Princeton, caused by a powerline spark, started mid-afternoon, and was quickly contained at nine acres by various resources from BIFZ, Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, city fire departments, contractors, and private landowners. Firefighters continued making solid progress on containment and mop-up efforts on the Falls Fire. 

August 4 – The Telephone Fire has reached Elephant Butte along the northeast perimeter, Poujade field to the east, Thompson and Frazier springs to the southeast, Mortimer Canyon to the south, the base of Gobbler’s Knob to the northwest, and King Mountain to the north. On the Falls Fire, on the south side of Gilbert Ridge from the 3150 to 3160 roads, crews have finished laying hose and are in mop up status. A recent slop over in the Myrtle Creek area was addressed and is holding well.

August 5 – For the Telephone Fire, containment lines are established around most of the east side and tied-in to Pine Creek on the northeast corner. A portion of the southeast part of the fire near Poujade road had been a concern but now looks really good. Dozer line was added along the 2820 road and power line off King Mountain. Crews are focusing on mop up operations and increasing depth into the containment area. On the Falls Fire, crews completed small-scale ignition operations along the 31 road to increase containment in this area.

A new lightning-caused incident in the Crane area – the Porcupine Fire – grew to over 3,000 acres thanks to steady westerly winds and extremely dry vegetation. Wheeled access was less than ideal, but dozers worked hard to put containment lines in as quickly as possible. Agency, contract, RFPA and air resources also engaged. 

August 6 – The Porcupine Fire is at 5,000 acres, though much of that burned before August 5th nightfall. Direct dozer line and retardant on the north side, a burnout on the east side, and indirect dozer line on the south side kept the fire mostly in place overnight. Containment efforts continued on the Falls and Telephone fires with no major news to report. Smoke plumes from recent days are largely due to controlled fire operations on pockets of unburned fuel within established containment lines. The Falls fire is at 147,161 acres and 75 percent contained. The Telephone Fire is at 53,110 acres and 31 percent contained. 

Several community meetings have been and will continue to be held in Burns, Seneca, Drewsey and Izee until conditions change. For more details, evacuation maps, smoke outlooks, contacts, and assistance resources, find the “Falls and Telephone Fires 2024” pages on Facebook and Inciweb, call (541) 208-4370, or visit an information station in person at Safeway, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Burns Paiute Tribe Reservation, and other locations. 

Fire danger is extreme, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is 4, and public use restrictions are in place throughout Harney County. 

Reminder: The human-caused Falls 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.