Residents displaced by the Hagen Fire in Umatilla and Union counties — as well as on lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation — can return home. Fire officials announced Saturday that all evacuation orders associated with the 61,382-acre blaze have been lifted, as firefighters push containment to 87 percent.

Officials credited the milestone to improving weather conditions and the sustained efforts of 567 personnel assigned to the incident. Fair weather with temperatures in the upper 60s and light winds is forecast for the coming days, with no further fire spread expected.

Hazards Remain Despite Lifted Evacuations

While the evacuation orders are lifted, fire managers are urging returning residents to proceed with caution. Significant hazards persist throughout the burned area:

  • Weakened trees and standing dead snags that can fall without warning
  • Rolling rocks and unstable slopes throughout the burn scar
  • Pockets of heat and residual combustion below the soil surface
  • Heavy machinery still operating on roads to extinguish remaining hot spots

“Residents and visitors should also remember that the absence of visible smoke does not mean all hazards are gone,” officials noted in a Saturday update.

Forest Closure Remains in Effect

Lifting evacuation orders does not reopen closed public lands. The Umatilla National Forest has updated its emergency closure area, which remains in effect through October 1. Closed areas include:

  • North Fork Umatilla Wilderness
  • Umatilla Forks Campground
  • Several nearby trailheads

Forest officials emphasized that the public land closure is separate from the residential evacuation order and that recreation in closed zones remains prohibited.

Suppression Repair Underway

With active firefighting winding down, crews are now focused on post-fire recovery and repair work. Current suppression repair priorities include stabilizing soil, repairing culverts to restore drainage and prevent erosion, and rehabilitating disturbances caused by fireline construction. Recent rainfall has rendered many roads too soft for heavy equipment, requiring careful assessment of access routes before work can proceed.

The Hagen Fire, which burned through portions of the Blue Mountains in northeastern Oregon, was one of many large fires to strike the region during an extraordinary 2026 fire season. Its conclusion marks a significant step toward recovery for communities in Umatilla and Union counties.

For updated closure information, contact the Umatilla National Forest at fs.usda.gov/umatilla or call the district ranger station.