Single Publication

Cedar Creek Fire Update

August 11, 2022 - 8:00 a.m. 

 Acreage: 3,861 
 Containment: 0%  

 Highlights: Crews used Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as “drones,” equipped with infrared detection technology on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to look for heat signatures from new lightning caused fire starts. No other new fires were detected, and crews were able to contain all five fires that started from the recent thunderstorms. The Interagency Hotshot Crews that contained the new starts have now returned to scouting for opportunities to connect Black Creek Road (Forest Road 2421) to Waldo Lake. Scouting for a strategic place to construct this line will prevent the fire from moving south. Firefighters have been able to work closely with Resource Advisors (READs) on the Willamette National Forest to protect critical natural resources and minimize resource damage during fireline construction and will continue to do so, particularly in the Waldo Lake Wilderness with consideration to protecting Wilderness character. 

Operations: Graders will continue working to improve roads south of the fire and north of Highway 58, east of Bunchgrass Ridge. With more heavy equipment arriving to the incident, crews have been able to increase the pace at which Black Creek Road (Forest Road 2421) is prepped and ready for eventual firing operations to secure the southern perimeter of the fire. As firefighters complete the thinning of small diameter woody debris north of the fire along Forest Road 2417, crews are coming behind them to chip the piles along roadsides. Several Interagency Hotshot crews and a Wildland Fire Module are continuing to scout opportunities in the Waldo Lake Wilderness north and south of the fire area, to tie in containment lines to the lake and prevent the fire from moving in that direction. 

Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place. 

Weather: Early cloud cover will clear and become sunny by mid-morning with temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s with relative humidity between 35-50 percent. Winds at forecast for 5 to 10 mph with gusts to 15 mph in the afternoon. 

Closures: The entire Waldo Lake Wilderness area is closed due to the Cedar Creek Fire. This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake. The lake itself, campgrounds, and trails (including the PCT) on the east side remain open. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place around the fire area. 

Restrictions: Fire restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest with the exception of the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Waldo Lake, and Diamond Peak Wilderness areas. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other fires will be prohibited, except in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns and heaters using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed if they can be switched on and off. Motorized vehicles may operate only on designated trails and roads, including within the Huckleberry Flats and Santiam Pass OHV areas. 

Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks (in both English and Spanish) are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook. Air quality in Oakridge, Oregon is expected to be good with the best time of day to recreate outdoors being late afternoon.  

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 541-201-2335 | Email: 2022.cedarcreek@firenet.gov | Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/ |
https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/ | https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf 
| https://twitter.com/willametteNF | YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/99hdyvjn