Wednesday Morning Update: Hagen Fire closes Highway 204, plus a report from the frontlines
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UMATILLA, UNION, AND WALLA WALLA COUNTIES – The Joint Emergency Operations Center reports that Highway 204 between Weston and Elgin is now closed from milepost 0 to 39 due to the Hagen Fire. The closure was made for through traffic so fire crews and emergency vehicles can work safely as well as concerns about fire activity.
Residents who live in the closure area are still allowed to get to their homes when conditions are safe. The closure also does not stop residents from evacuating. Anyone in a Level 3 GO NOW area should leave right away and follow directions from law enforcement.
Extra law enforcement officers are helping patrol the area, control access, and protect homes and property.
Please do not go around roadblocks or enter closed areas. The closure will stay in place until further notice.
From the frontlines:
Northern Rockies Team 6 Incident Commander Rich Cowger reports that on the Hagen fire, it is estimated at 53,306 acres and containment remains at 11 percent. The Paradise Fire is at 3,946 acres with zero percent containment. Here is the morning report:
Key Message – A Change in Wind Direction
Firefighters remain vigilant and continue to engage the fire as safely as possible. While increasing relative humidity is moderating fire activity, hot afternoon conditions combined with wind and slope alignment continue to drive uphill runs and active spotting. The wind will shift direction today to west- northwest, and fire managers anticipate different areas of the fire to become more active as wind and slope alignment changes across the terrain.
Current Status
Paradise Fire –
Tuesday, firefighters dealt with active fire in the southeast as fire spread over Broken Ridge and made significant gains to the south. Firefighters engaged in defensive burnout operations but stopped when the main fire became more active. They will attempt another defensive burn today if conditions allow to put a buffer between FS Road 64 and the fire front. The spot north of Mill Creek has not moved outside of its containment lines and will continue to be monitored. Structure protection and egress efforts continue on the west side of the fire.
Hagen Fire –
Tuesday, the fire climbed up the steep drainages below Coyote Ridge, moving as far west as the West Fork of Coyote Creek. Along Highway 204 and the community of Tollgate, crews are looking for opportunities to move indirect line closer to the fire and farther from homes and properties. Reinforcement of these lines may involve defensive firing to create a buffer between the active fire and homes. Structure protection with sprinklers, hoses, water supplies and other preventative techniques is ongoing in this area as well. All spots east of Highway 204 are being mopped up and monitored.
The fire is expected to make southeast gains today as the wind starts to blow out of the northwest. To prepare, firefighters are building “check lines”, which are shorter reinforced dozer or hand line, perpendicular to the Highway on the south side of the fire to slow the advancing fire front. These will not contain the fire but will give firefighters more time to construct containment lines and cool the fire with helicopter drops and engine support
On the south side of the fire, firefighters are reinforcing dozer lines and preparing roads in the steep and rugged terrain through defensive burnout operations, sometimes using drones to ignite interior pockets of fuel. The change in wind direction means that the fire should test these lines today.
Weather and Fire Behavior
The winds will shift from west southwest to west northwest today leading to active fire behavior in new areas. Relative humidity is expected to increase over the next few days. This increase in moisture means that grasses and other fire fuels are less receptive to burning for longer in the mornings and earlier in the evening.
d Horse Ridge Fire Emergency Closure – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla/alerts/hagen-and-horse-ridge-fire-emergency-closure
Paradise Fire:
Paradise Fire Emergency Closure – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla/alerts/paradise-fire-emergency-closure
Road Closure Information:
Oregon Department of Transportation Trip Check – https://www.tripcheck.com/
Fire Restrictions: The Umatilla National Forest has issued public use restrictions for smoking, off-road travel, and chainsaw use across the entire national forest. – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla/alerts/phase-c-public-use-restrictionsSmoke Outlook: For current smoke reports visit https://fire.airnow.gov.
File photo from Aug. 10 of Hagen Fire from Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office
