Cedar Creek Fire Update October 19, 2022

Cedar Creek Fire QuickFacts

Size: 126,222 acres

Origin: 15 miles E of Oakridge, OR

Containment: 50%

Cause: Lightning 

Total personnel: 580       

Start Date: August 1, 2022

Resources: 17 engines; 11 crews; 7 helicopters; 9 heavy equipment

Weather: Wednesday will provide for slightly higher temperature conditions with highs in the mid to upper 70’s, and lower relative humidity between 20 – 30 percent. Winds will be variable out of the southeast in the morning to north in the afternoon, with windspeeds less than 10mph. Starting Thursday, the pressure will drop and temperatures will start to cool, with slightly higher humidity; a trend which will progress toward the weekend. Precipitation in the 1 – 1-1/2 inch range is expected for our area on Friday evening through Sunday evening, with 4+ inches of snow possible on Saturday in the higher elevations.  

Operations: Poor air quality continues to impact communities around the fire area as strong inversions lock smoke from interior fire activity into valleys and drainages. Even with significant smoke in the air, the fire remains within control lines and there is no threat to containment. Crews are engaged in holding and securing any areas of increased heat along the edges by cooling and creating depth along the line. Air resources have been operating whenever weather and visibility allow for safe flying, providing support to firefighters on the ground. These air resources will be scaling back over the next few days. The recent new start, which began south Waldo Lake on Monday, has been extinguished at approximately 0.1 acres and smoke jumpers have returned to their base.  

Repair projects across the fire area are ongoing. Firefighters are focusing efforts along the southern edge to mop up and secure control lines in areas where the fire had previously challenged containment. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol in multiple divisions of the fire area. Assessment and repair continue around road systems along the northern edge of the fire. In Division Romeo on the southeast corner, heavy equipment is working to complete suppression repair projects. The west side of the fire perimeter will also see continued repair operations. 

With higher temperatures and lower relative humidity on Wednesday, fire activity may increase in the afternoon and the inversion may lift creating a short period of increased visibility and decreased smoke conditions. 

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.orgfor 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. Smoke impacts will be heavily dependent on fire activity. For current conditions, see Fire.airnow.gov, oakridgeair.org, and LRAPA- Today’s CurrentAir 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: [email protected]