After a lengthy closure due to wildfire activity, Oregon Highway 204 at Tollgate has reopened between Elgin and Weston, officials said in a Wednesday update, wh
After a lengthy closure due to wildfire activity, Oregon Highway 204 at Tollgate has reopened between Elgin and Weston, officials said in a Wednesday update, while warning the route could shut down again with little or no notice.
Officials said conditions can change quickly because of fire activity or the need to give fire crews space to work safely. The public is being asked to avoid unnecessary travel through the area. Those who do travel should slow down and watch for fire crews, heavy equipment and trucks entering and exiting the highway.
The reopening comes as firefighters continue battling the Hagen Fire, where crews were preparing for an expected uptick in activity Tuesday as warmer, drier conditions returned and near-critical fire weather moved into the area.
As of Tuesday’s update, the Hagen Fire was estimated at 57,678 acres and 19% contained, with 957 personnel assigned.
A new incident management team, Southern Area Team 3, is transitioning in to take command of the fire from Northern Rockies Team 6 on Wednesday, August 19th.
Fire managers said an increase in fire activity was expected Tuesday, with relative humidity forecast at 18-20% and wind gusts around 20 mph. Officials said fuels have begun to dry after cooler, wetter weekend conditions, allowing for a longer burning period. Fire managers and firefighters said they were preparing for the expected increase in intensity and planned to shift resources to areas where needs are most critical.
On the fireline, the priority continues to be the north central area, south of Highway 204. On Monday, two hotshot crews finished building handline from Zig Zag Springs down to the North Fork of the Umatilla. Crews also used defensive burning to remove fuels, reinforce lines and keep the fire from spreading north and west toward critical infrastructure.
More defensive burning is planned in the southeast area of the fire, where crews are working to connect the edges of burned “fingers,” create depth and bring the fire’s edge closer to control lines where mop-up is more effective. Mop-up continues across the perimeter, along with chipping vegetation with masticators and woodchippers and preparing roadways to allow for more defensive burning.
Fire crews also responded to a new start Monday afternoon west of Elgin, assisting local resources in catching the approximately 26-acre Phillips Creek Fire.
Evacuation levels remain in place, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, even as conditions in portions of the fire area improve. A Joint Emergency Operations Center — including the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Umatilla County Emergency Management, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Emergency Management and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation — remains engaged with the incident management team.
County officials said conditions do not yet support changes to existing evacuation levels, and they are continuing to evaluate fire activity, weather, control lines and risks to homes and communities. Officials said any changes will be based on conditions on the ground and the ability of fire personnel and emergency responders to safely protect residents and provide access to affected areas.
The sheriff’s office cited recent fire behavior on the northern portion of the fire, south of Highway 204, where outflow winds reaching approximately 30 mph pushed the fire toward control lines and spot fires were reported up to one-half mile from the fire’s edge. Air resources supported crews as they worked to establish additional dozer and hand lines in more favorable terrain.
Elsewhere, portions of the fire received more than one-half inch of precipitation, including hail. Firefighters are using the moisture to support mop-up operations and reduce remaining fuels within the perimeter, while unmanned aerial systems monitor the fire and identify heat signatures that could threaten control lines.
Officials urged residents to continue following current evacuation guidance and remain prepared for changes as conditions evolve, with updates expected as conditions support any adjustments to evacuation levels.
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