KUMA Coffee Hour host Dan Thesman speaks with Public Information Officers Phil Foster and Don Ferguson regarding the status of the Hagen, Horse Ridge, and Paradise fires, which are all being managed by Northwest Team 7. The team is coordinating over 1,000 personnel across three separate base camps in Elgin, Athena, and Walla Walla. Foster reports that the Horse Ridge fire is 95% contained at 860 acres, allowing resources to shift to the larger Hagen fire (35,427 acres, 8% contained) and the Paradise fire (768 acres, 0% contained). While no structures have been lost thanks to proactive measures by local and state fire crews, upcoming hot, dry weather and a red flag warning present significant challenges. Fighting the Paradise fire is particularly difficult due to steep, roadless terrain and strict environmental protections within the Walla Walla municipal watershed. Though official investigations are ongoing, the fires are suspected to have been started by lightning. Ferguson closes by reminding the public to practice fire safety to prevent human-caused blazes during these critical conditions. (Photo courtesy Northwest Team 7 of burnout operation on the Hagen Fire)