Walla Walla City Council declares emergency over Paradise Fire

WALLA WALLA — The Walla Walla City Council has passed a resolution declaring a local state of emergency in response to the Paradise Fire, a wildfire threatening the Mill Creek Watershed following a July 16 lightning strike.

Walla Walla City Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain detailed the history of the response, explaining that multiple incident management teams have been deployed as the fire expanded during an active regional wildfire season. She noted the city is coordinating with county, state, and federal agencies to amend regional disaster declarations, which would allow access to critical federal resources for long-term recovery.

During last Wednesday’s city council meeting, Councilmember Monte Willis raised concerns regarding critical infrastructure and emergency powers. Responding to Willis’ questions about local communications facilities, Chamberlain explained that Walla Walla Emergency Services Communications (WESCOM) radio towers supporting the area’s 911 system are being closely monitored, particularly to safeguard power resilience if public utilities face interruptions.

Willis also questioned the resolution’s broad emergency provisions, including language granting the city manager power to commandeer equipment or move property out of the fire’s path. City Attorney Tim Donaldson clarified that the defensive powers are standard legal tools meant to halt the fire’s spread in emergency situations, bounded by existing city appropriations and supervisory oversight. Donaldson confirmed the powers do not permit taking on new debt or levying taxes.

Though Willis ultimately voted in favor of the measure, he expressed caution before the vote, stating that the sweeping scope of the declaration “makes me nervous” and urging the council to remain vigilant.

Photo taken by P. MacMeekin of night shift crew on Paradise Fire, Aug. 13, 2026

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Elkhorn Media Group