An aircraft dumps fire retardant on a wildfire in the Malheur National Forest in 2022.

HINES — The Falls Fire grew to an estimated 4,500 acres on Friday, July 12, and remains 0% contained, the interagency team battling the blaze reported.

Additional resources were brought in to attack the fire, which is burning 25 miles northwest of Burns on the Emigrant Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest, according to a news release issued by the Pacific Northwest Complex Incident Management Team.

The fire started July 10 and is believed to have been human-caused. Its origins remain under investigation.

Firefighters worked Friday to establish an anchor point on the southwestern and southern flanks of the fire. Hand crews, bulldozers, and aircraft continued to use Forest Service Road 43 and constructed line on the western side of the fire, working their way to the north.

The fire activity increased Friday afternoon on the northern and eastern flanks, causing crews to withdraw from direct line construction efforts along the fire’s edge. Firefighters worked through the night and contained several spot fires across FSR 4310 on the fire’s eastern edge. Aircraft were tasked to continue to support suppression efforts Saturday.

There are 182 personnel assigned to the incident, including seven hand crews, 10 fire engines, two bulldozers, and one helicopter. Two additional helicopters worked on the fire Friday and remain available to the incident as needed. Four single-engine air tankers and two very large air tankers supported firefighters and heavy equipment as they worked to secure portions of the fire’s north flank on Friday. Additional firefighting resources have been ordered.

A red flag warning remains in effect over the fire area and a heat advisory is in place for the region. Saturday’s weather was expected to be hot and dry, with temperatures in the upper 90s. Relative humidity is low with winds from the west and southwest from 9-14 mph with gusts to 25 mph. There is a chance of afternoon thunderstorms producing gusty outflow winds with little to no precipitation predicted.

The Malheur National Forest has issued a fire area closure. Emigrant Creek Campground, Falls Campground, and several Forest Service roads are closed for public and firefighter safety.

A detailed map and additional information about the fire area closure are available at tinyurl.com/335neehw.

A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire area.