ORMAF Telephone Fire

Last updated: 2024-07-29

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The type of incident is Wildfire and involves the following unit(s) Malheur National Forest.

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State: Oregon

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Coordinates:

Latitude: 43° 45 28 Longitude: 118° 51 42

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NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations.

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Incident Overview: The Telephone Fire started on July 22, 2024, approximately 15 miles north of Burns, Oregon, in the King Mountain area on the Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest. The Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Fire Marshal are working in partnership with fire managers. A full-suppression strategy is being used for the fire, while insuring to minimize risks to responders and the public. The fire was human-caused and remains under investigation. Initial attack resources attempted direct tactics early on but were challenged by the terrain and accessibility to the eastern side of the fire. Full suppression efforts are being implemented utilizing a combination of direct, indirect, and point protection where the highest probability of success can be safely achieved. Firefighters continue to establish firelines and hose lays, working in conjunction with aerial resources.Due to active wildfires compounded by extremely unfavorable weather conditions, limited firefighting resources and county resources, on July 22, 2024 the Malheur National Forest temporarily closed lands within the forest. The closure means that the public is prohibited from entering lands, roads, trails and recreation areas and facilities on the Malheur National Forest. The objective of the closure is to protect public and firefighter safety as the incident management team continues to battle the Falls and Telephone Fires and as local resources continue to respond to new smoke reports.For information on the Malheur National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur.