Eastern Oregon is contending with two particularly challenging wildfire incidents this week: the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County and the Grasshopper Fire in Grant County. Together, these two fires have burned more than 146,000 acres and are challenging firefighting resources with difficult terrain, persistent dry conditions, and active fire behavior.
Hagen Fire: Eastern Oregon's Most Active Threat
The Hagen Fire, located approximately 26 miles east of Pendleton in Umatilla County, has burned 56,419 acres and remains at only 14% containment — making it one of the least-contained large fires in Oregon. The fire is burning in a landscape of dry grass, shrubland, and timber in the rolling terrain of the Blue Mountains foothills, an area that supports both livestock grazing and significant wildlife habitat.
The Paradise Fire, a separate incident burning approximately 15 miles south of Pendleton at 5,195 acres with zero containment, has added to the complexity of emergency management in Umatilla County. Together, these two fires have prompted evacuation levels across multiple zones in the county, and officials are closely monitoring both incidents as wind and heat conditions remain concerning.
The agricultural community around Pendleton — one of Oregon's most productive dryland wheat farming and cattle ranching areas — has been significantly impacted by smoke, road closures, and the direct threat of fire to crops, livestock facilities, and fencing.
Grasshopper Fire: Grant County Challenge
The Grasshopper Fire, burning approximately 3 miles north of Sportsmans Park in Grant County, has reached 90,130 acres at 47% containment. While more than half-contained, the Grasshopper Fire continues to show active behavior on its uncontrolled flanks, and the rugged terrain in the John Day River watershed makes full containment an ongoing challenge.
The fire has burned through a mosaic of ponderosa pine forest, mixed conifer stands, and bunchgrass meadows in one of Oregon's most ecologically diverse regions. The John Day basin is home to significant populations of deer, elk, and native fish species in its rivers — all of which may be affected by the loss of riparian vegetation and increased erosion risk following the fire.
Firefighting Operations
Both fires are being managed by Type 1 or Type 2 Incident Management Teams with full complements of ground and aerial resources. Crews are working to establish and hold containment lines using a combination of direct attack where conditions allow and indirect strategies — including firing operations to remove fuel ahead of the fire — in areas where direct engagement is unsafe.
The Oregon Department of Forestry and the US Forest Service (Umatilla National Forest for the Hagen Fire, Malheur National Forest for the Grasshopper Fire) are the lead management agencies for these incidents, with extensive interagency cooperation from BLM, county fire departments, and private contractors.
Staying Informed
Umatilla County residents can monitor evacuation zones and emergency information through the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office and OC Alert emergency notification system. Grant County residents should follow updates from the Grant County Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Forestry. InciWeb pages for both fires are updated daily with fire behavior, weather, and operations information.