Single Publication

Cedar Creek Fire
September 22, 2022
Daily Update at 8:30 AM  

Cedar Creek Fire Quick Facts

Size: 113,637 acres

Contained: 14%

Start Date: August 1, 2022

Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, Oregon

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 2,276

Resources: 65 engines, 41 crews, 86 heavy equipment, 9 helicopters

West Zone Operations: Over the past couple days, the scattered rain showers and high humidity levels moderated fire behavior. Crews are making progress on mop up operations by extinguishing hot spots and cutting snags and fire weakened trees along the western edge of the fire. Firefighters have prepared the control line southwest of the main fire. Although the fire has not made it to Constitution Grove, firefighters have been adding protection measures such as more pumps, sprinklers and hoselays to further protect the area in case fire pushes in that direction over the coming days or weeks.

Containment has often been used as a reference measure for firefighter progress and accomplishments. Conditions around the Cedar Creek fire area, such as steep terrain, snags, and rolling logs and debris present challenges for safely building effective containment lines directly on the fire’s edge. Fire managers took these conditions into account in evaluating what strategy would be most successful in protecting the communities of Oakridge, Westfir and High Prairie as well as the Highway 58 and Waldo Lake. Firefighters have successfully completed clearing vegetation along roads to use as firelines along much of the west zone of the fire. These firelines are not considered secure until there can be reasonable certainty that the fire will not cross them in the future. Before the wet weather, crews were successful in completing burning operations along much of the western and southern areas to bring the main fire to the control line under more favorable conditions. Fire officials make a determination about containment in the areas where burning operations have reached containment lines, mop up is completed and the fireline is secure.

East Zone Operations: Northwest Team 7 – Managed by Incident Commander Nate LeFevre, assumed command of the Cedar Creek East Zone Fire this morning. The primary objectives will be for the protection of community and recreational values while providing for firefighter and public safety by thoroughly assessing risk, implementing mitigations, and developing sound strategies and tactics. 

The east zone of the fire area received close to 1/3 inch of rain Wednesday. Fire behavior on the east side is expected to be minimal over the next five days. Moderated fire behavior provides an excellent opportunity to continue shaded fuel break construction around the east zone. 

Crews will begin repairing dozer line in between Waldo Lake and Forest Service Road 5897. Repair includes mitigating soil erosion and breaking up soil berms. The 5897 Road, and areas around Odell Lake will be in monitor and patrol status. Property protection measures including hose and sprinklers will remain in place, and engines will continue to patrol the area. Work continues along Forest Service Roads 4660 and 4668, building a shaded fuel break. The Cascade Lakes highway remains closed between the Crescent Cutoff and Mud Lake Road, just south of Elk Lake, for ongoing shaded fuel break construction. The shaded fuel break will protect values at risk from the Cedar Creek fire and serve as a mitigation tool in future fire years. The Deschutes National Forest has a temporary forest closure in place, to protect both firefighters and equipment working in the area, as well as protecting the public from hazards.  

Weather: Scattered rain continued across the fire area today ranging in accumulation from 0.10 to 0.25 inches. Rain is expected to continue through Thursday morning, then warmer and drier conditions are expected to begin Friday and continue through the weekend.

Closures: The Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest both have closures in effect to protect the public and firefighters. Please visit Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest for the most recent closure orders and maps. Elijah Bristow State Park and Dexter Boat Launch are closed to the public since they are being used by firefighters. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place. The use of drones is prohibited in the fire area, please make it safe for our firefighters to use aircraft on the fire. Pacific Crest Trail hikers should visit pcta.org for current information. See a map of the fire area with both forest closures here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/map/8307/0/137083

Restrictions: Fire restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest.  

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: An updated map of the evacuation areas 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. Lane County residents can use the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Flash Alert site for information to support insurance claims for reimbursement for lodging https://flashalert.net/id/LaneSheriff.

Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/ | https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/ |
YouTube: https://www.tinyurl.com/cedarcreekfireyoutube

Fire Information Line: 541-201-2335, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | For Media Inquiries: 541-327-9925