Paradise, Hagen, Ninemile and Horse Ridge Fire Information - July 19, 2026

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

Email: 2026.paradise@firenet.gov 

AirNow: https://fire.airnow.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592064000400

July 19, 2026 

Management Team Will Help Firefighters Suppress Umatilla Forest Fires 

Update: Northwest Incident Management Team 7, an interagency complex incident management team, took command of four wildfires on the Umatilla National Forest at 6 a.m. today. The team will assist and coordinate numerous firefighting resources as they work to suppress and extinguish the lightning-caused fires as quickly and safely as possible. 

The fires under Team 7’s command include the Paradise Fire, burning about 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla; the Hagen Fire, burning about 9 miles southwest of Tollgate, Ore.; the Horse Ridge Fire, burning about 5 miles northeast of Meacham, Ore.; and the Ninemile Fire, located four miles southwest of Tollgate within the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness. 

Firefighters are using full suppression tactics and strategies that provide the highest likelihood of success while mitigating risks to responders. Values at risk include human safety, structures and communities, municipal watersheds, railroad corridors, private timber and range lands, and recreation opportunities.

The team is working to establish a command post in Walla Walla and another operating base for firefighters closer to the Hagen and Horse Ridge Fires. More information will be shared in the coming days via email and on the platforms listed above, such as operational firefighting updates, maps, closures and evacuations, and weather, smoke and fire behavior updates.

Evacuation Levels: Umatilla County has issued a Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation for the Hagen Fire that includes Bingham Road, the Umatilla River Corridor and Hagen Creek area. 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 a Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory for most of Oregon and Washington that warns of dryer than normal fuel conditions due to record low snowpacks that will contribute to more active fire behavior and longer burning periods than is normal for this time of year. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Hot and dry conditions continue today with 5 to 10 mph, terrain-driven winds across the fire areas followed by poor humidity recovery Monday night. Temperatures range from the mid-70s on the Paradise Fire to mid to upper 80s on the Hagen and Horse Ridge fires. Relatively calm fire behavior is expected in the morning and into the early afternoon with activity increasing later in the day and into the evening. Some torching and spotting are likely within timbered drainages. Downslope winds after sunset are expected to increase downhill runs into the evening.

Smoke Outlook: Patchy smoke is expected throughout the day. For current smoke reports visit https://fire.airnow.gov

Fire Restrictions: The Umatilla National Forest has issued Phase B Public Use Restrictions for smoking, off-road travel, and chainsaw use across the entire national forest.

Umatilla National Forest Closures: Forest officials will soon issue a temporary area closure around the fires 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