Moderate weather aids firefighters battling Hagen, Paradise, Horse Ridge Fires
By Dan Thesman on Monday, August 3rd, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
Sunday’s cooler weather and moderate fire behavior allowed personnel to gain ground against three regional wildfires, though the largest blaze grew by more than 4,000 acres, officials said.
A total of 1,062 firefighters were assigned to the Paradise, Hagen, and Horse Ridge fires as crews took advantage of favorable conditions to construct containment lines and bolster structure protection.
Hagen Fire Expands to Nearly 40,000 Acres
The Hagen Fire, located 4 miles southwest of Tollgate and 12 miles northwest of Elgin, experienced significant growth, expanding by about 4,350 acres. Advancing slightly across all uncontained perimeters, the blaze has burned a total of 39,777 acres.
Despite the growth, containment increased to 11 percent. Fire officials reported strong western lines at Rattlesnake Ridge and solid northern lines at Bingham Road.
Crews are working to extinguish spot fires east of Forest Service Road 31 while bolstering indirect containment lines along FS Roads 31 and 3128 ahead of the advancing fire front. Heavy helicopter support remains active to keep the blaze south of the North Fork of the Umatilla River.
Paradise Fire Threatens Municipal Watershed
The Paradise Fire reached 1,318 acres after cresting Paradise Ridge and creeping north. Located approximately 10 miles southeast of Walla Walla, the blaze sits entirely within the City of Walla Walla’s municipal watershed.
Because of the location, firefighters are exercising extra care during suppression efforts to protect the city’s water supply. Crews are seeking additional access points to directly engage the fire and reinforce structure protection.
Horse Ridge Fire Near Full Containment
Near Meacham, crews continue to hold the 860-acre Horse Ridge Fire.
Located about 5 miles northeast of the town, the fire remained within established containment lines and stands at 95 percent containment. With perimeter lines remaining stable for several days, officials said fewer resources are now needed to manage the incident.
Evacuation Levels
Fire conditions can change rapidly. Follow the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Facebook page for evacuation updates: https://www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff
Photo of the Hagen Fire courtesy North Pendleton Rural Fire Protection Agency
