8-28 Hagen and Paradise fires update
By Terry Murry on Friday, August 28th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
From the Southern Area 3 Incident Command Team
| Fire | Size* | Containment | Personnel |
| Hagen | 60,645 acres | 33% | 1,042 |
| Paradise | 9,272 acres | 13% | 463 |
*Our reported acreage comes from the ICS-209, the official source used across all incident updates and posted on InciWeb to maintain consistency. Infrared mapping flights often occur overnight and can produce updated perimeter data that appears sooner on platforms like Watch Duty. Those numbers can sometimes be useful for situational awareness, but we publish only the acreage that has been verified for accuracy.
Key Messages
- Tactical firing operations will be minimal today. Firefighters continue to assess options for tactical firing operations. Opportunities to increase containment lines look favorable over the next few days.
- Hagen Fire Expanded Emergency Closure Lifted U.S. Forest Service officials lifted the Hagen Fire Expanded Emergency Closure area north of Highway 204 on the Walla Walla Ranger District. The Hagen and Horse Ridge Fire Emergency Closure south of Highway 204 and the Paradise Fire Emergency Closure around Mill Creek Watershed remain in place.
- Please remain alert when traveling along Hwy. 204 tonight Forest visitors may encounter heavy traffic along Hwy. 204 this evening. Please stay alert for dusty roads and smoky areas when traveling in this area.
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND Planned activities
Paradise Fire
Firefighters are securing and mopping up heat from previous tactical firing operations in the Mill Creek drainage and around the intake, along Forest Service Road 65 and other existing control lines. Crews continue to make meaningful, steady progress each day. They patrol, cool hot spots, improve access, and prepare areas where containment lines can be safely built and strengthened. As these sections become secure, the containment percentage will increase.
Hagen Fire
Fire personnel continue to secure and mop up containment lines across the fire area. Increased acres are due to tactical burning to bring fire closer to containment lines, especially along Highway 204. Heavy equipment work is finishing today along Forest Service Road 31. Crews are mopping up and securing control lines in areas along the fire’s eastern and southern edges today. Along containment lines, aviation resources will continue to support on-the-ground firefighters to protect private lands and other important resources.
Weather and fire behavior Temperatures will be cooler today, reaching the low to mid-70s with relative humidity in the low to mid-30s. Winds will be 5-10 mph, with gusts 15-20 mph. The day will start sunny with clouds moving in this afternoon. Fire activity is expected to be minimal.
File photo of the Hagen Fire on 8/15
