Several fires burning in and around the Umatilla National Forest in northeastern Oregon continue to challenge firefighters and force residents from their homes. The Hagen, Horse Ridge, Paradise, and Ninemile fires — all burning within roughly 25 to 30 miles of Pendleton — are under unified command of the Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 7 and the Oregon State Fire Marshal Gray Team, which held a public meeting Thursday to update Umatilla County residents.

Hagen Fire: The Largest Threat

The Hagen Fire, burning approximately 26 miles east of Pendleton in timber, grass, and brush, has been the most significant threat to structures and residences in the complex. Fire behavior has been described as active, with flanking runs, isolated torching, and short-range spotting. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office has issued:

  • Level 3 (“Go Now”) Evacuation Orders: Bingham Road, the Umatilla River Corridor, and the Hagen Creek area
  • Level 1 and Level 2 Evacuation Notices: Additional zones in Umatilla County searchable via the Genasys emergency notification system

An emergency evacuation shelter has been established at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton for displaced residents. More than 1,000 people in Oregon have been evacuated due to wildfire activity this week, according to OPB.

Companion Fires

The Horse Ridge Fire, burning approximately 25 miles east of Pendleton and about 602 acres, has been pushed to 10% containment. The Paradise Fire, burning near Paradise Creek at approximately 511 acres, remains at 0% containment. The smaller Ninemile Fire continues to burn in the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness. These fires were all ignited during the July lightning outbreak that swept the region.

Bologna and Stone Creek Fires

Additional fires active in the region include the Bologna Fire and the Egypt and Stone Creek fires in southern and central Oregon, with the Egypt Fire in Harney County having burned approximately 4,689 acres at 0% containment as of this week. The Stone Creek Fire is also under active management.

Residents in and around Umatilla County should register with the Genasys emergency notification system to receive real-time evacuation alerts. Check centraloregonfire.org and InciWeb for maps and daily incident updates.