Hagen and Paradise Fires Near Full Containment as Management Teams Transition Back to Local Forest

Two of Oregon's most significant fires of the 2026 season — the Hagen and Paradise fires burning in the Umatilla National Forest — are nearing full containment following a wet September weekend that dumped more than 1.5 inches of rain on both fire areas.

Current Fire Status

As of September 15, the Hagen Fire has burned 61,381 acres and reached 87% containment, while the Paradise Fire has burned 9,656 acres and is 86% contained. A combined force of 678 personnel is assigned to both incidents, according to the Umatilla National Forest's latest situation report.

Incident Management Team Transition

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, which has overseen the Paradise Fire, officially transferred command back to the local Umatilla National Forest at 6:00 p.m. on September 15. The Hagen Fire will follow suit, transitioning to Northwest Incident Management Team 7 on the morning of September 16 at 7:00 a.m., before eventually returning to local forest management as well.

The transition marks a significant milestone: these large, complex incidents — which required national team coordination for weeks — are now stable enough to be managed by local personnel.

Rain Brings Both Relief and Challenges

The weekend storms that swept through eastern Oregon brought welcome precipitation — the Paradise Fire area received 1.62 inches of rain, while the Hagen Fire area received 1.82 inches. However, fire managers note that wet conditions create their own set of hazards during the rehabilitation phase.

Wet ground can loosen tree roots and send rolling debris down slopes, posing risks to crews repairing fire lines. Slick road conditions and saturated soils have limited access by heavy equipment, which compacts wet soil too aggressively for repair work. As conditions dry out over the coming days, fire managers expect to resume full repair and rehabilitation operations across both fire areas.

Looking Ahead

A warming and drying trend is forecast for the area this week, with temperatures expected in the mid-50s to low 60s and southeast winds shifting to northwest gusts. Field managers have assessed individual portions of the fire lines to identify where crews can safely continue work.

For evacuation and closure information, residents can visit the fire's official linktree page or contact the fire information line at (541) 970-7128, or email 2026paradise@firenet.gov.

Fire Contact Information