By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
From Complex Incident Management Northwest Team 8:
Firefighters are shifting operations from active suppression to repair and restoration as they work to manage the Hagen and Paradise fires, officials announced Wednesday.
A combined force of 961 personnel is tackling both blazes. The Hagen Fire has burned 61,385 acres and is 60 percent contained, while the Paradise Fire stands at 9,655 acres with 28 percent containment.
Crews on the Hagen Fire are hauling out pumps, hose lines, and fuel tanks, though hotshots continue evaluating steep terrain for potential new containment lines. On the Paradise Fire, firefighters are patrolling burned areas for lingering hot spots, repairing trails, and chipping debris, with equipment being reassigned from Hagen to boost restoration work.
Resource specialists are guiding heavy equipment operators in stabilizing soil, improving drainage, and repairing handlines and dozer cuts. To assist, officials deployed a Type 1 fixed-wing drone to conduct nighttime infrared flights, identifying hidden heat sources in areas too dangerous for ground crews to reach on foot.
Fire managers warned that shifting weather could briefly challenge containment. A warming trend will bring sunny skies, low-80s temperatures, and afternoon wind gusts up to 15 mph through Thursday, potentially causing a minor surge in fire activity and smoke.
Because operations are transitioning toward long-term stabilization, official situation updates will now be issued every other day unless conditions change significantly.

Paradise (top) and Hagen (below) maps from NW Team 8