Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge Fire Information - July 31, 2026

Fire Information Phone: 541-970-7128 (8 am – 8 pm; voice only; texts will not be received)

Email: 2026.paradise@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
AirNow: https://fire.airnow.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592064000400
July 31, 2026

Firefighters Prepare for Red Flag Conditions Saturday

Weather and Fire Behavior: The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday, August 1st for very low relative humidity and windy conditions which could result in increased fire spread and spotting potential. Relative humidity did not recover above 25%-40% last night on the three fires and will stay low throughout today, resulting in the potential for increased activity.

Update: Firefighters are continuing work to build indirect and direct lines around the Hagen and Paradise fires in anticipation of expected low humidity and strong winds in exposed areas tomorrow. There are over 1,000 fire personnel assigned to these fires, working out of bases in Walla Walla, Athena, and Elgin.

Northwest Team 7 is partnering with the Umatilla and Walla Walla County Sheriff’s offices, City of Walla Walla, state agencies, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to suppress the fires. These agencies are collaborating to protect human safety, structures and communities, the Walla Walla municipal water supply, railroad corridors, private timber and range lands, and recreation values.

The Paradise Fire (768 acres) is about 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla. The south end of the Paradise Fire has shown recent fire activity that may align with the topography today allowing the fire to grow. Firefighters are building indirect fire line while also working directly at the fire’s edge where possible. The fire is entirely within the municipal watershed for the City of Walla Walla and requires very careful suppression activity to preserve the integrity of the watershed.

The Hagen Fire (35,427 acres) is about 9 miles southwest of Tollgate, Oregon and about 12 miles northwest of Elgin, Oregon and is 8% contained. The fire is still expanding to the south and east. Bingham Road remains secure as the northern boundary of the fire. Burnout operations along Rattlesnake Ridge are eliminating the fuel between the wildfire and the containment lines, creating a stronger barrier with less risk of spotting. The western line along Rattlesnake Ridge continues to hold. On the northeast, east and southern flanks, firefighters are completing work along Hwy 204 and FS Road 31 to prepare indirect containment lines and strengthen structure protection. As this work is completed, they will then move to build direct fire line at the fire’s edge wherever this work can be done safely and effectively.

The Horse Ridge Fire (860 acres) about 5 miles northeast of Meacham, Oregon showed minimal fire behavior and is 95% contained. Horse Ridge has interior heat and light smoke production. Firefighters are patrolling the fire’s edge and are mopping up deeper in the interior.

Evacuation Levels: The Umatilla County Sheriff reminds the public that residents must remain extremely vigilant and proactively monitor surrounding fire activity. Fire conditions can change rapidly. Evacuation levels have been elevated in areas of Umatilla County, Union County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. See the advisories at https://www.umatillacounty.net/departments/sheriffs-office/emergency-management/emergency-advisories. Follow the Sheriff’s Office on Facebook for evacuation updates: https://www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff

Fire and Fuels Advisory: The Northwest Coordination Center’s Predictive Services has issued an advisory https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/pdfs/Fuels_and_Fire_Behavior_Advisory_PNW_0728.pdf. This winter’s record low snowpack in the Northwest, along with recent drought conditions, has led to live and dead fuels curing significantly earlier than usual. Fire activity is already reflecting patterns normally seen much later in the fire season.

Smoke Outlook: For current smoke reports visit https://fire.airnow.gov. For detailed northeast Oregon air reports, visit https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/61e48530. For southeast Washington, visit https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/bb27fabc.

Fire Restrictions: The Umatilla National Forest has issued public use restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla/alerts/phase-c-public-use-restrictions for smoking, off-road travel, and chainsaw use across the entire national forest.

Umatilla National Forest Closures: Forest officials have issued the following Forest Closure Order, https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/r06/umatilla/publication/alerts/06-14-06-26-09_Hagen-HorseRidgeFire_FullOrder.pdf for public safety and to facilitate firefighting operations. Areas included in the closure include Corporation Guard Station and Trailhead, North Fork Umatilla Trailhead, Umatilla Fork Day-Use Area and Campground, Buck Creek Cabin, and Buck Creek Trailhead.

Air Space Restrictions: Temporary Flight Restrictions are in place over the wildfires. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. http://knowbeforeyoufly.org