Tuesday, 11 August 2026, 15:25
The Paradise Fire in southeastern Washington has been burning for more than two weeks and is still not contained. On Aug. 4, emergency officials issued new evacuation levels and road closures as the blaze grew to 1,572 acres. By Aug. 5, the fire had expanded to 1,664 acres, and evacuation notices were issued across the border in Oregon.
On Aug. 7, the fire grew to 2,656 acres, and all Level 1 evacuation notices were upgraded to Level 2. The fire remains 0% contained.
On Aug. 8, the fire grew to 2,927 acres, and containment remained at 0%, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
On Aug. 9, the fire grew to 3,155 acres, and containment remained at 0%, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Late Saturday night, Columbia County Emergency Management issued Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations for the Green Fork and Burnt Fork areas, expanding evacuation notices into Columbia County.
The fast-moving wildfire has forced thousands to flee as it continues to spread.
Walla Walla County Emergency Management initially reported the fire at 1,505 acres with 0% containment. Level 2 (Be Set) evacuations apply to the area immediately north of Paradise Ridge, land near the southern boundary of the Level 1 zone extending toward active firepoints, and areas along Mill Creek adjacent to active fire detections.
In an update at 4:45 p.m., the National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire had grown to 1,572 acres, with containment still at 0%.
An update on Aug. 5 at 7:45 a.m. reported the fire had grown to 1,664 acres, with containment still at 0%, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Later that day, at 4:15 p.m., Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations were issued for some areas within Umatilla County in Oregon. Residents there should begin preparing to leave if conditions worsen. The evacuation zones are visible online. The affected areas are identified as UMC-1406043-C and UMC-1406043-D.
Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations cover the Biscuit Ridge Road corridor, including surrounding forested areas, Black Snake Ridge, Green Ridge and adjacent drainages, portions of Lewis Peak Road, areas surrounding Thompson Road, and land stretching west toward Laird Gulch and Blue Creek.
On Aug. 7 at 8:30 a.m., the National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire had grown to 2,656 acres, with containment still at 0%. By 2 p.m. that day, all Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices were upgraded to Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation orders. This includes the areas previously under Level 1, such as the Biscuit Ridge Road corridor, Black Snake Ridge, Green Ridge and adjacent drainages, portions of Lewis Peak Road, areas surrounding Thompson Road, and land stretching west toward Laird Gulch and Blue Creek, as well as the Umatilla County zones UMC-1406043-C and UMC-1406043-D. Residents in these areas should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
On Aug. 8 at 11:15 a.m., the National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire had grown to 2,927 acres, with containment still at 0%. Evacuation levels and road closures remained in effect.
On Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m., the National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire had grown to 3,155 acres, with containment still at 0%. Late Saturday night, Columbia County Emergency Management issued Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations for the Green Fork and Burnt Fork areas in Columbia County. Residents there should begin preparing to leave if conditions worsen.
The Umatilla County emergency shelter has been relocated to Neighbor 2 Neighbor Pendleton at 715 SE Court Ave in Pendleton, OR 97801, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office.
In addition to road closures, land and trail closures are also in effect. A complete list of closures is available online.
This fire is burning in Washington state, not California. For readers in Apple Valley and across Southern California, there is no direct impact from the blaze. The incident is still a useful reminder to review evacuation plans and stay aware of wildfire risks during the summer fire season.
The Paradise Fire started July 16 in the area of Paradise Creek and the Mill Creek watershed in Walla Walla County. It has grown steadily since then. Firefighters have not established containment lines so far, according to the Walla Walla County Emergency Management update. The fire is burning near the conjunction of Walla Walla, Wallowa, Columbia, and Umatilla counties. The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported Aug. 5 that the Paradise Fire is likely to burn for several more weeks. For information about firefighting efforts, officials point to the Paradise Fire Official Information Facebook Page.
The Paradise Fire is one of three fires burning in the Walla Walla region, along with the Hagan Fire and the Horse Ridge Fire. All three started from lightning strikes in mid-July. Nearly 1,200 firefighters are working across the three fires. The Horse Ridge Fire has reached 98 percent containment, but the Hagan Fire remains a significant challenge. The Paradise Fire is burning in the Walla Walla Municipal Watershed, a critical water source for the community. The steep, remote terrain in the watershed has made access difficult for firefighters, with no road access. Johnny Collins, District Ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, said the fire "did spread fairly rapidly, and it's about in its top of a spot in that watershed, as you can find, it's very remote. No road access." Firefighters are using aircraft and working to build defensible containment lines around the Paradise Fire. Officials expect the fire to remain on the landscape through August, into September, and potentially into the fall. The fire's location in the municipal watershed adds urgency to containment efforts, as wildfires can affect water quality and availability.
A community meeting for the Paradise and Hagan Fires is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Walla Walla Community College Auditorium, Room 1732, Health & Science Building E, 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, Washington. The meeting will also be livestreamed.
Parking is available in the SEATech Lot. The meeting will also be streamed on the Paradise and Hagan Fire Facebook page.
Residents in the affected zones should follow evacuation orders and monitor official sources for new information. Travelers heading to the Pacific Northwest should also watch for road closures and changing fire conditions.
