8-18 Morning update: Paradise and Hagen fires

EASTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON – A new incident management team is transitioning to command for the Paradise and Hagen fires. Northern Rockies Team 6 is handing the reins to Southern Area Team 3.

Containment on the Paradise Fire remains at zero percent. On the Hagen Fire, it increased from 14 percent to 19 percent. An increase in fire activity is expected today (Tuesday) as near-critical fire weather moves in.

From the Northern Rockies Team 6:

CURRENT CONDITIONS AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Paradise Fire

Defensive firing continued in the southeast portion of the fire along FS Road 64, extending fire lines, creating depth, and staying ahead of the fire. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS drones) will continue assisting ground resources in picking up heat signatures with infrared cameras, as crews take their time and safely stay ahead of the fire with burning operations. On the northern side of the fire, resources continue to monitor the fire’s edge, keeping the footprint minimal in the Mill Creek watershed. Chipping and mastication efforts continue around the fire perimeter, reducing fuel in critical portions of the fire.

Hagen Fire

The priority on the Hagen fire continues to be on the north central area, south of Highway 204. Monday, two hotshot crews finished building handline from Zig Zag Springs down to the North Fork of the Umatilla. They used defensive burning to remove fuels, reinforce lines, and keep the spread of the fire from moving north and west towards critical infrastructure. More defensive burning will continue in the southeast area of the fire, connecting the edges of burnt fingers, creating depth, and bringing the fire’s edge closer to control lines where mop-up is more beneficial. Mop-up continues across the fire perimeter, along with chipping vegetation with masticators and woodchippers, and prepping roadways to allow for more defensive burning. Yesterday afternoon, resources on the Hagen Fire responded to a new fire start west of Elgin, and assisted local resources in catching the ~26 acre start called the Phillips Creek Fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Warmer and drier conditions have replaced cooler and wetter conditions from the weekend, and fuels have begun to dry and become available for a longer burning period. Near critical fire weather is expected over the fire area with relative humidity 18-20% and wind gusts around 20 mph. Expect increase in fire activity in the area. 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.

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Elkhorn Media Group