OAKRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oakridge and Westfir areas were evacuated Friday night and the closure of Highway 58 was extended 65 miles ahead of the Cedar Creek Fire as predicted windy conditions also fueled other wildfires in the Northwest that forced people to leave their homes. “DO NOT spend time collecting things. GO NOW!” the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said in a 7:15 p.m. Facebook update, having warned area residents hours earlier in a Level 2 “Get Set” alert that the danger was increasing. ODOT has expanded its closure on Highway 58 from milepost 5, one mile east of Pleasant Hill in the west to milepost 70 in Crescent Lake in the east. Evacuees were advised to travel west on Highway 58 to the temporary evacuation site at Lane Community College, Building 16, and travelers were asked to avoid the area and take alternate routes. Another fire caused some South Salem residents to evacuate Friday night, KPTV reported, and there were also Level 3 “Go!” Evacuation orders for the Kalama Fire in Cowlitz County, Washington, after Gifford Pinchot National Forest officials said the fire grew from four acres to 80 acres overnight. In Washington County, west of Portland, two wildfires near Hag Lake are under control, but sheriff’s deputies said high winds mean a Level 2 evacuation alert is in place for SW Stepien Road, with residents asked to evacuate if possible. The Oregon Department of Forestry said a statewide task force formed earlier this week is working with several structural protection task forces focused on protecting Oakridge and other nearby private lands. “The task force is currently surveying access points and planning its attack should easterly winds push the fire off federal and private lands,” a news release said Friday night. Elsewhere, the Oregon Department of State has closed the Elliott State Forest and South Slough National Estuarine Reserve to the public due to extreme fire danger. The latest Cedar Creek Fire updates can be found on the Cedar Creek Fire Facebook page. Get traffic updates on the TripCheck page. The evacuation map can be found at:
Gov. Kate Brown Invokes Emergency Fire Act in Response to Cedar Creek Fire
Cedar Creek Fire Burns 33,100 Acres in Lane and Deschutes Counties (Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Fire Act this afternoon as a precautionary measure in response to the Cedar Creek Fire in the National Forest east of the community of Oakridge in Lane County. This declaration allows the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to mobilize resources to support local fire departments in Lane County to implement their plan to protect lives, homes and critical infrastructure. Fire activity has increased significantly due to weather conditions and the fire is estimated at 33,100 acres as of Friday morning. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for areas near the fire.
“The Cedar Creek Fire has grown rapidly toward Oregon communities this morning, and the potential for fire growth over the next several days is alarming, requiring additional resources to fight the fire and support the state’s response,” Governor Brown said. “This is a good reminder that conditions can change quickly and that fire has no boundaries. With the forecasted weather this week and the numerous wildland fires near communities, it is important for all Oregonians to are prepared. Follow all evacuation orders and continue to follow local and national fire prevention regulations to keep our communities safe and our natural resources protected.”
Pursuant to ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Brown has determined that there is a threat to life, safety, and property due to the fire and that the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment. The Governor’s statement cleared the way for the Fire Marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources in fighting the fire and further support a coordinated response.
The Cedar Creek Fire has been burning in the desert for a month. Local fire departments have increased personnel and plan to protect life and structures in surrounding communities. The Oregon Fire Marshal has worked with the head of the fire protection board to determine fire response needs. This declaration paves the way for additional resources to respond to support local fire services. OSFM will continually assess response needs with forecasted weather and fire conditions and will bring in additional task forces through the Oregon Fire Mutual Assistance System (OFMAS).
Additional updates on the incident are available at:
Information on bushfire prevention and preparedness is available at:
Earlier Friday, the Deschutes National Forest expanded the temporary emergency closure area implemented as a result of the increased fire on the Cedar Creek Fire, which has now exceeded 33,000 acres.
The Cedar Creek Fire is currently burning about 20 miles west of La Pine. For the safety of the public and firefighters, the Bend-Fort Rock and Crescent Ranger Districts in the Deschutes National Forest will temporarily close all Forest Service managed roads, headlands and trails within the Cedar Creek Fire Temporary Closure (#06- 01-22 -03) area (See attached map). This closure will remain in effect until cancelled.
The following are closed under the Cedar Creek Fire Temporary Closure Order (Closure #06-01-22-03) –
Trailheads –
• Blue Lagoon Trailhead
• Charlton Lake Trailhead
• Corral Swamp Trailhead
• Deer Lake Trailhead
• Elk Lake Trailhead
• Irish & Taylor Trailhead
• Lemish Lake Trailhead
• Lucky Lake Trailhead
• Many Trailhead Lakes
• Moore Creek Trailhead
• Sisters-Mirror Lake Trailhead
• Six Lakes Trailhead
• Winopee Lake Trailhead
Camping and Recreation Areas —
• Big Cove Boat-In Campground
• Browns Crossing Wildlife Viewing
• Browns Mountain Boating
• Cow Meadow Campground
• Crane Prairie Campground and Day Use Area
• Cultus Corral Horse Camp
• Cultus Lake Campground & Day Use Area
• Cultus Lake Recreation Area
• Deschutes Bridge
• Lava Lake Campground and Day Use Area
• Little Cove Boat-In Campground
• Little Cultus Campground & Boat Ramp
• Little Lava Lake Campground & Day Use Area
• Daily use of Mile Camp
• North Davis Creek Campground & Boat Ramp
• Osprey Point Interpretive Trail
• Quinn River Campground & Day Use
• Rock Creek Campground & Day Use
• West Cultus Boat-In Campground
This closure also specifically closes the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Highway 58 north to the intersection with Wickiup Plains Trail #12.2. Long-distance hikers can rejoin the PCT at the Devils Lake/Wickiup Plains Trailhead. Visit pcta.org for current closure information.
The Cedar Creek Fire was sparked by lightning that was reported Aug. 1 and is burning in the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. The fire is now 33,099 acres and 12% contained. The fire is currently being managed by Northwest Incident Management Team 6 on the west side and Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team 1 on the east side. For information about the Cedar Creek Fire, visit
Cedar Creek Fire Update – August 9, 2022
Size: 33,099 acres
Contains: 12%
Start date: August 1, 2022
Location: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR
Cause: Lightning
Total staff: 862
Resources: 27 engines
15 crews
31 heavy equipment
7 helicopters
2 balls
Lane Electric Cooperative will hold a public safety outage from 5 p.m. from Friday September 9 to the evening of Sunday September 11. This outage will affect nearly all members, with Oakridge, Lowell and Veneta town centers remaining electric providing essential service. Call or visit 541-484-1151 Lane Electric for updates or changes.
Current Status: East winds, low humidity and high temperatures will cause the fire to activate today. The highest activity will be noted where lichens are present on the trees and there is a high concentration of underwood. Where winds align with slopes, tree fires and spot fire are expected. High ground was scouted last night to assess the fire’s growth, but smoke limited visibility. The fire was located above Winchester Trail to the north. Alaska Team 1 joined Northwest Team 6 to manage the east side of the fire. This has brought key middle management personnel to the fire and allows firefighters to have less drive time on the east side of the fire.
Today’s Operations: With critical weather conditions expected today, business leaders will continually assess fire development and focus on strategic positioning of firefighters in anticipation of changing conditions throughout the day. Firefighters are working the fire line from north Waldo Lake to Charlton Lake connected to Forest Service Road 4290 to prevent the fire from continuing to move south. At 2421 Forest Service Road firefighters will be watching for any fires and will contain the fire on the road. Crews will engage the fires north of Winchester Trail trying to put them out if it is safe to do so. Firefighters are also coordinating with the Middle Fork Ranger District and Lane County…
