Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge Fires Update - August 7, 2026

Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge Fires
Umatilla National Forest 

Fire Information 541-970-7128, 2026.paradise@firenet.gov 

August 7, 2026 

Northern Rockies Team 6, Incident Commander Rich Cowger 

Hagen Fire 
Latest Intelligence
Location: 12 miles northwest of Elgin, OR
Size: 42,699 acres
Completion/Containment: 11%
781 personnel

Paradise Fire 
Latest Intelligence
Location: 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla, WA
Size: 2,565 acres
Completion/Containment: 0%
317 personnel

Horse Ridge Fire 
Latest Intelligence
Location: 5 miles northeast of Meacham, OR
Size: 860 acres
Completion/Containment: 98%
Unstaffed

Key Message:  Developing an Enduring, Values Based Strategy  

Thursday, fire managers met with representatives from around the area to identify, describe and prioritize the critical values that are threatened by the Paradise Fire. This process helps the team develop operational strategies that limit fire size and severity to protect those values. This allows firefighters to be proactive rather than reactive and chasing fire day after day. On Friday, fire managers will repeat this process with a focus on the Hagen Fire. 

Current Status:  

Fire activity has increased as expected with the hot, dry weather. The heavy smoke layer is both moderating fire behavior and making it difficult to fly aircraft in some areas.  When clearing occurs spot fires and runs tested fire lines on both the Paradise and Hagen Fires. Helicopters dropped water on hot spots south of the Ryan Creek area on the Hagen Fire and north of the Shank Lookout on the Paradise Fire. Fire growth is expected today and firefighters are prepared. 

Paradise Fire - Poor relative humidity recovery overnight means that the Paradise Fire continues to burn late into the evening. It is established in the Mill Creek drainage but has not crossed Mill Creek. It did make a run towards the Shank Lookout but was kept in check using aircraft. This is a priority area in today’s operations. Much of the area is steep and dense and has limited the use of ground resources. Therefore, much of the firefighting efforts consists of improving and reinforcing control lines such as roads and ridges.  The use of aerial resources has also been significant assist in keeping in limiting spread and decreasing severity of fire.  If conditions allow, firefighters may use defensive firing to contain the fire. With the expected fire activity, Umatilla and Walla Walla Counties are carefully considering the need to change evacuation levels. See the evacuation links below for more information. 

Hagen Fire - The “fingers” on the southeast side of the fire continue to grow together and spot fires have made it over some indirect lines. These spot fires were quickly surrounded by fire resources and crews will work through the night to fully contain them. Firefighters on the south side of the North Fork of the Umatilla River are looking for locations to build indirect containment lines closer to the active fire in order to “shrink the box” and keep the fire’s footprint small.  

Horse Ridge Fire - The fire stayed within established lines and is being monitored both from the air and by personnel on the Hagen Fire. This will be the last update on the Horse Ridge Fire unless conditions change.  

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Friday and Saturday will have near-critical fire weather in the fire area. The regions just west and north of the fires, including Walla Walla, will be under a Red Flag Warning. The fire area is not officially affected by this warning, regardless, the conditions will still be conducive to increased fire activity and growth.  

Closures and Special Messages 

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 

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