Single Publication

Cedar Creek Fire

October 12, 2022 | Size: 122,706 acres | Contained: 38% | Start Date: August 1,2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR 
Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 686| Resources: 22 engines; 13 crews; 7 heavy equipment; 7 helicopters

Weather: High pressure will remain over the fire area the rest of this week, resulting in a warming and drying trend with temperatures at least 5-10 degrees above seasonal averages. These conditions combined with increased winds will lead to critical fire weather conditions today and tomorrow. Temperatures will range from 70-80 degrees across the fire area today.

Operations: Firefighters completed fireline around 100% of both pockets of “slopover” fire on the southern fire perimeter near Lucas Lake yesterday. Both slopover areas are now surrounded by a combination of dozerline and handline and firefighters are finishing construction of a network of fire hoses to deliver water directly to containment lines. Firefighters were again assisted by water bucket drops from heavy helicopters to cool areas of active fire. Fire crews will work today to secure and strengthen these control lines.

Firefighters will be vigilant with today’s critical fire weather conditions as they patrol and defend existing control lines around the fire. Fire crews are continuing repairs around much of the fire, grading roads and clearing culverts and ditches. Along the northern fire perimeter, firefighters are patrolling for heat sources near control lines and are working to hold the fire south of the 19 Road. Firefighters are working to keep the fire north of the 4290 Road in the eastern portion of the fire, and chipping operations are ongoing near Cultus Lake to remove woody debris left over from fire suppression. There are numerous interior pockets of unburned fuel that will readily burn as the temperatures rise and the humidity drops, continuing to produce smoky conditions.   

Suppression repairs on the Big Swamp and Potter Fires are ongoing as firefighters add water bars to former containment lines and restore natural drainage to areas impacted by firefighting, reducing the potential for sediment from containment lines to impact local streams and rivers.

Closures: There are closures in effect on the Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest. These closures will remain in place until areas impacted by the fire are surveyed for safety risks and fire crews are able to mitigate these hazards. Please respect Forest closures for firefighter and public safety. Please visit Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest for the most recent closure orders and maps. Pacific Crest Trail hikers should visit pcta.org for current information. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Cedar Creek Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone - if you fly, we can’t.

Smoke: Air quality conditions due to smoke are expected to be Good to Hazardous within the forecast area. Continued Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions persist in Oakridge. Much improved air quality conditions from Good to Moderate are predicted today for Bend, La Pine, Crescent Lake and Crater Lake. Increasing smoke is predicted this afternoon to evening for Eugene. For current conditions, see Fire.airnow.gov, oakridgeair.org, and LRAPA - Today's Current Air Quality. Smoke Forecast Outlooks are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook.

Evacuations: A map of the evacuation area is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CedarCreek. Sign-up for emergency mobile alerts by going to oralert.gov. Please check with Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911 for updates and changes.