Northern Rockies Team 6, Incident Commander Rich Cowger
Hagen Fire
Latest Intelligence
Size: 53,306 acres
Completion/Containment: 11%
996 personnel
Paradise Fire
Latest Intelligence
Size: 3,946 acres
Completion/Containment: 0%
316 personnel
Key Message – A Change in Wind Direction
Firefighters remain vigilant and continue to engage the fire as safely as possible. While increasing relative humidity is moderating fire activity, hot afternoon conditions combined with wind and slope alignment continue to drive uphill runs and active spotting. The wind will shift direction today to west- northwest, and fire managers anticipate different areas of the fire to become more active as wind and slope alignment changes across the terrain.
Current Status
Paradise Fire –
Tuesday, firefighters dealt with active fire in the southeast as fire spread over Broken Ridge and made significant gains to the south. Firefighters engaged in defensive burnout operations but stopped when the main fire became more active. They will attempt another defensive burn today if conditions allow to put a buffer between FS Road 64 and the fire front. The spot north of Mill Creek has not moved outside of its containment lines and will continue to be monitored. Structure protection and egress efforts continue on the west side of the fire.
Hagen Fire -
Tuesday, the fire climbed up the steep drainages below Coyote Ridge, moving as far west as the West Fork of Coyote Creek. Along Highway 204 and the community of Tollgate, crews are looking for opportunities to move indirect line closer to the fire and farther from homes and properties. Reinforcement of these lines may involve defensive firing to create a buffer between the active fire and homes. Structure protection with sprinklers, hoses, water supplies and other preventative techniques is ongoing in this area as well. All spots east of Highway 204 are being mopped up and monitored.
The fire is expected to make southeast gains today as the wind starts to blow out of the northwest. To prepare, firefighters are building “check lines”, which are shorter reinforced dozer or hand line, perpendicular to the Highway on the south side of the fire to slow the advancing fire front. These will not contain the fire but will give firefighters more time to construct containment lines and cool the fire with helicopter drops and engine support
On the south side of the fire, firefighters are reinforcing dozer lines and preparing roads in the steep and rugged terrain through defensive burnout operations, sometimes using drones to ignite interior pockets of fuel. The change in wind direction means that the fire should test these lines today.
Weather and Fire Behavior
The winds will shift from west southwest to west northwest today leading to active fire behavior in new areas. Relative humidity is expected to increase over the next few days. This increase in moisture means that grasses and other fire fuels are less receptive to burning for longer in the mornings and earlier in the evening.
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 TripCheck
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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