Northern Rockies Team 6, Incident Commander Rich Cowger
Hagen Fire
Latest Intelligence
Size: 56,869
Containment: 14%
Personnel: 944
Paradise Fire
Latest Intelligence
Size: 5,333 acres
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 353
Key Message
Smoke over the Paradise and Hagen Fires kept fire activity minimal over much of the fire area on Sunday. A thunderstorm moved through between the Hagen Fire and Elgin but did not directly affect suppression activities. Fire mangers are working hard to return things to a sense of normalcy for impacted communities. This includes constantly evaluating closures and evacuations with local emergency managers.
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND Planned activities
Paradise Fire
Fire behavior on the Paradise Fire on Sunday remained moderate with creeping, smoldering and backing fire throughout the fire area. As grasses and trees dry, however, fire activity is increasing. Fire continues to slowly back down slope on Broken Ridge towards Mill Creek. Deliberate progress is being made to put line around the entirety of the fire with a focus on the south and east where fire activity is most prevalent. Line improvement operations were successful along portions of FSR 65 and will continue Monday. Firefighters are also moving east from the Mill Creek side to tie into this road system. On Sunday, a new, small fire was discovered south of the Paradise fire which resulted from a lightning strike during the previous day’s thunderstorms. A crew and aerial support from the Paradise fire were able to respond and help with containment.
Hagen Fire
Sunday was another active day in the Zig Zag Springs area. Air tankers dropped retardant along an open ridge south of the springs while a hot shot crew dug hand line. The crew then burned fuels near the retardant line creating a 600-1,000 ft buffer designed to stop the advance of the main fire. These firing operations continued through the night into Monday. Around the rest of the fire, firefighters continue to make steady progress with line preparation and mop up. As fuels dry and become more receptive, firing operations will remove unburned fuel between the control lines and the fire's edge, reinforcing and widening the control lines. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS Drones) will continue to gather intelligence and fly infrared missions to identify heat signatures that are outside or could threaten control lines. The objective remains to keep the lines as close to the fire's edge as possible. There was minimal activity along the Old Meachum Creek Road; lines held and crews will continue to mop up the area on Monday.
Weather and Fire Behavior
There is a 10% chance of isolated thunderstorms again on Monday. These thunderstorms will taper off starting Tuesday, when a warming and drying trend begins, accompanied by afternoon gusty winds up to 20 mph and temperatures in the mid-80s across higher elevations. Fire managers and firefighters are preparing for the expected increase in fire behavior intensity and will move firefighting resources around to where the needs are most critical.
EVACUATIONS
Evacuation Levels:
Fire conditions can change rapidly. Evacuation levels and Road Closures are frequently adjusted.
Umatilla County, Union County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
County Emergency Management Websites:
Columbia County Emergency Management
Umatilla County Emergency Management
Union County Emergency Management
Walla Walla County Emergency Management
Closures and Special Messages
Umatilla National Forest Closures: For public safety and to facilitate firefighting operations the following National Forest Closures have been issued.
Hagen Fire:
Expanded closure order for the Hagen Fire
Hagen and Horse Ridge Fire Emergency Closure
Paradise Fire:
Paradise Fire Emergency Closure
Road Closure Information:
Oregon Department of Transportation Trip Check
Fire Restrictions: The Umatilla National Forest has issued public use restrictions for smoking, off-road travel, and chainsaw use across the entire national forest.
Smoke Outlook: For current smoke reports visit https://fire.airnow.gov.
Detailed Northeast Oregon Air Reports
Detailed Southeast Washington Air Reports
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
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