Single Publication

Cedar Creek Fire

October 9, 2022 | Update 8:30 AM | Size: 121,762 acres | Contained: 38% | Start Date: August 1,2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR 
Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 627| Resources: 21 engines; 14 crews; 3 heavy equipment; 8 helicopters
 

Weather: Weather conditions will be near critical conditions throughout the week. Today will be warm and dry, with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. Widespread smoke and haze will continue across most of the fire area. 
 
Operations: Northwest Incident Management Team 12 took command of the fire at 8:00 PM last night. Extremely dry fuels and high temperatures led to increased fire behavior on the southern edge of the Cedar Creek Fire, enabling the fire to escape containment lines near Lucas Lake and close to the existing spot fire. Firefighters focused their efforts on this new “slopover” area where the fire crossed containment lines, estimated to be 30-50 acres yesterday. Heavy helicopters performed numerous water bucket drops on this new slopover fire and the existing spot fire, and very large air tankers (VLATs) dropped multiple loads of retardant to slow the fire spread. Helicopters and air tankers will be utilized again today as conditions permit to assist firefighters working on the ground around these areas of active fire. Additional resources and equipment, including multiple dozers, have been ordered and will continue arriving today as fire crews concentrate on keeping these two pockets of active fire north of the Highway 58 corridor.  On the eastern fire perimeter near Charlton Lake, firefighters constructed a network of fire hoses to deliver water to containment lines and used water bucket drops from heavy helicopters to cool and secure containment lines ahead of the increased winds forecasted next week. Firefighters are currently assessing and evaluating the safety risks associated with reopening the 24 Road. Fire crews continue to patrol around other portions of the fire, working to identify and extinguish any remaining areas of heat near containment lines. Fire suppression repair work is ongoing around most of the remaining fire perimeter.  Firefighters on the Big Swamp and Potter Fires are completing fire suppression repairs on both fires, returning roads and fire control lines to their pre-fire condition. 
 
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: 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.
 
Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/ | www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/ www.tinyurl.com/cedarcreekfireyoutube | Fire Information Line: 541-201-2335, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | For Media Inquiries: 541-327-9925 | Email: 2022.cedarcreek@firenet.gov