Cedar Creek Fire Update August 15, 8:00 a.m.

Highlights: Crews resumed aerial ignitions with Plastic Sphere Dispensers (PSD) also known as “ping pong balls” on the southwest flank of the fire yesterday. In the Cedar Creek drainage, these incendiary devices are being deployed by helicopters and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) also known as “drones” to encourage fire movement to the south towards containment lines. Heavy equipment including feller bunchers, masticators, and graders continued working on roads in multiple areas of the fire, including along Forest Road (FR) 2419 and FR 1944 north of the fire area. Small diameter material is being removed and stacked during the construction of the shaded fuel break from Forest Road 24 south to Highway 58. Prep work also continued south of the fire area in the FR 5883 road system, which is now being considered a primary containment line after it was determined that there was no safe opportunity to construct fireline from Black Creek Road directly to Waldo Lake. 

Operations: With slightly warmer and drier conditions forecast for today, UAS and helicopters are expected to continue with aerial ignitions in the Cedar Creek drainage on the southwest flank of the fire. Firefighters have adapted their strategy to contain the southern fire perimeter and are now focused on building primary and secondary containment lines south of Black Creek Road. Heavy equipment will continue removing vegetation along the road and chipping small diameter woody material around Fuji Mountain today. Crews are still looking for opportunities to construct line through the roadless area to prevent the fire from moving south towards values at risk, and scout for options to construct a primary containment line south of Black Creek Road in the Bunchgrass Ridge area. Firefighters are working closely with Resource Advisors (READs) from the Willamette National Forest to ensure that critical natural and cultural resources in the area, including Waldo Lake, are protected and damage is minimized and mitigated. 

Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place.

Weather: Temperatures are expected to be 80-90 degrees with relative humidity predicted between 24-35 percent. Winds will be terrain driven in most areas with ridgetops and exposed areas seeing northwest winds 3 to 6 mph and 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.

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: [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