Hagen Fire prompts Level 3 evacuations in Oregon’s Umatilla County

Emergency managers, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, the county Emergency Operations Center and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ordered tiered evacuations as the Hagen Fire burned about nine miles southwest of Tollgate in northeastern Oregon. The Northwest Incident Management Team 7 took command of four wildfires on the Umatilla National Forest, including the Hagen Fire, and coordinated firefighting resources.

Three evacuation levels were declared. Level 3 (“GO NOW!”) covers residents on Bingham Road, the Umatilla River corridor and the Hagen Creek area, who must leave immediately. Level 2 (“BE SET”) includes Bingham Road from the tribal boundary to Meacham Creek and surrounding zones, with residents urged to prepare to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Level 1 (“BE READY”) encompasses a broader area north of Wildhorse Mountain and Grouse Mountain, with residents asked to monitor conditions and be ready to depart if needed. Officials warned that steep terrain, dense timber, limited road access and spotty cellular service could hinder evacuation and response efforts.