Cedar Creek Fire, August 16, 8:00 a.m.

Cedar Creek Fire, August 16, 8:00 a.m.
Acres: 4,657
Containment: 0%

*There will be a virtual public meeting tomorrow, August 17 at 7:00 p.m. on Facebook*
https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/

Highlights: Yesterday crews continued work on the shaded fuel break from Forest Road (FR) 19 south to Highway 58. Heavy equipment and crews have completed approximately one and one-half miles of road prep along this contingency fire line with approximately five and one-half miles left to complete. Fire managers in cooperation with the Willamette National Forest have closed FR 1928 and the Huckleberry Flats OHV area through Friday for the safety of the public and firefighters working in the area. Crews were also able to wrap fire-resistant aluminum foil around the Taylor Burns Guard Station north of Waldo Lake at the end of Irish Taylor Road. This foil will stay in place until the threat of fire passes. Firefighters and heavy equipment continued road prep from Shadow Bay Campground along Waldo Lake Road down to the Lower Fuji Mountain Trail. The Devils Staircase Wildland Fire Module from the Siuslaw National Forest hiked into the South Waldo snow shelter and began removing brush and small diameter woody debris around it and several recreation values on the southern end of Waldo Lake.

Operations: Aerial ignitions will continue today with warmer and drier temperatures expected to increase fire activity on the southwestern flank of the fire. The Plastic Sphere Devices (PSDs) released by helicopters and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (also known as “drones”) are being used to bring low intensity fire down the ridge into the Cedar Creek drainage to Black Creek Road (FR 2421). While firefighters have continued to prep alternate roads to be used as containment lines, crews will actively work to hold fire on Black Creek Road. Beginning tonight, the fire will be staffed with both a day shift and a night shift to meet this objective. Heavy equipment and crews have been working along Waldo Lake Road beginning at Shadow Bay Campground and prepping the road down to the Lower Fuji Mountain Trail. From there, crews will be working to connect the Trail, through the roadless area, to FR 5883 Road system and west to the railroad right-of-way along Highway 58.

Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place.

Weather: Increasingly higher temperatures are forecast for today with highs in the low 90s and relative humidity values ranging from the high teens in the lower elevation drainages, to 35 percent in the upper elevations. Winds will be terrain driven out of the west to northwest at 3 to 7 mph with gusts to 12 mph in the afternoon.

Closures: An Area Closure is in place for 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 and was expanded to include areas east of Waldo Lake.

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 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: [email protected] |
Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/ | https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/ |
https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf | https://twitter.com/willametteNF | YouTube: https://www.tinyurl.com/cedarcreekfireyoutube

Cedar Creek Fire
Public Information Officer
(541)201-2335