Paradise, Hagen and Horse Ridge Fire Information - August 3, 2026

Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge Fire Information 

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 

August 3, 2026  

Firefighters Take Advantage of Calm Weather 

Update: Yesterday’s moderate fire behavior on the Paradise and Hagen Fires allowed firefighters to make progress building direct and indirect fire line. With more moderate conditions expected today firefighters will more directly engage the fire to improve containment and strengthen structure protection. There are 1,062 people assigned today. 

The Paradise Fire (1,318 acres) is about 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla. The fire crested Paradise Ridge and is continuing to spread to the north. Today firefighters will look for more access points to engage the fire directly and improve structure protection. 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 (39,777 acres) is about 4 miles southwest of Tollgate and about 12 miles northwest of Elgin. The fire grew about 4,350 acres yesterday, advancing slightly on all uncontained perimeters. The containment lines to the west at Rattlesnake Ridge and the northern line at Bingham Road are strong and the containment percentage has increased to 11%. Crews are working to find and extinguish any remaining spot fires that occurred east of FS Road 31 and will improve indirect line along this road and FS Road 3128 in anticipation of the advancing fire front. Extensive helicopter support will continue to keep the fire south of the North Fork of the Umatilla River. 

The Horse Ridge Fire (860 acres) about 5 miles northeast of Meacham stayed within established lines and is still 95% contained. The containment lines have remained stable for several days and require fewer firefighters to manage. 

A Community Meeting was held in Elgin yesterday. It can be viewed here: https://sites.resi.io/ess-paradisemtg 

Evacuation Levels: Fire conditions can change rapidly. Evacuation levels are frequently adjusted 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. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Slightly cooler weather with moderate humidity today will give way to a warming and drying air mass in the next several days. Today the fire is expected to show short uphill runs and spotting up to one-quarter mile.  

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