Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge Fire Information - August 5, 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 

August 5, 2026 

Firefighters Ready for Hot Weather 

Update: There will be warming, drying and increasingly unstable weather for the next several days. Firefighters made progress on containment lines around the Hagen and Paradise Fires in preparation for the increased fire behavior expected over the next few days. There are 1,075 people assigned to all three incidents. 

The Paradise Fire (1,664 acres) is about 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla. Most of the activity yesterday was backing and flanking as the fire spread down the north side of Paradise Ridge towards Mill Creek. Steep conditions allowed burning material to roll downhill and ignite fuel below. Yesterday the fire grew 159 acres. Firefighters will work to reinforce structure protection to the north and northwest of the fire and improve FS Roads 64 and 65 as indirect fire lines. 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 (40,803 acres) is about 4 miles southwest of Tollgate and about 12 miles northwest of Elgin and is 11% contained, growing 412 acres yesterday. The Rattlesnake Ridge fire line to the west and Bingham Road fire line to the north remain secure. Helicopters dropped an additional 100,000 gallons of water on the flames yesterday, to help contain the fire south of the North Fork of the Umatilla River and aid firefighters on the ground on the south, southeast and eastern flanks. Crews are looking to improve road preparation along FS Road 3128 today and patrol the line as fire conditions worsen today and tomorrow. 

The Horse Ridge Fire (860 acres) about 5 miles northeast of Meacham stayed within established lines and is 98% contained in patrol status. 

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

Evacuation Levels: Fire conditions can change rapidly. Evacuation levels are frequently adjusted. For joint updates from Umatilla County, Union County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, follow the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff 

For Walla Walla County Emergency Management updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/WallaWallaEM 

 Extreme Fire Risk: This is shaping up to be one of the most devastating fire seasons in the Pacific Northwest. Fuels are extremely dry as a result of the lack of snow over the winter. Follow all burn restrictions and use caution while recreating to reduce possible ignitions that could have catastrophic effects. Resources are stretched thin as almost 20,000 firefighters are committed to the Pacific Northwest alone. Firefighters have enough on their hands with lightning fires; they don’t need any human-caused ones. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Today and tomorrow are expected to have elevated fire risk if the smoke clears and sunlight reaches the critically dry fuels on the ground. When the sky clears mid-day, the fire is expected to make uphill runs and spotting from one-quarter mile up to a half mile when there is topography wind alignment in the afternoon. 

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