The fire has grown to 73,922 acres, according to an infrared flight late Friday night. That’s a jump of 22,000 acres in 12 hours and 40,000 acres in one day, according to a Saturday afternoon post on the fire’s Facebook page.
The Oakridge, Westfir and High Prairie areas remained under a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation order Saturday, although Lane Electric Cooperative said it had begun restoring power in some areas, bringing in mutual aid crews from other areas. The live, interactive evacuation level map is at
Officials said restoring power to the McKenzie area was delayed, requiring coordination with the Bonneville Power Agency, which also shut down lines in the area as a precaution.
A red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions was scheduled to remain in place until 11pm on Saturday.
Fire officials also noted that despite heat signatures shown on a map south of Oregon Highway 58 at Kitson Ridge, crews found no evidence of fire activity and said the fire had not crossed Highway 58.
Among the extensive recreational impacts were the closure of public access to Edison Butte, Kapka Butte and Virginia Meissner parks. Officials said the lower parking lot at Wanoga Sno-Park remained open for public use and trail access, while Swampy Lakes Sno-Park and the trailhead also remained open.
Sunrise Lodge at Mt. Bachelor and the parking lot were closed for use as an incident command station for the East Zone of the fire, which was being used by Alaska Incident Management Team 1.
(Credit: Cedar Creek Fire/Facebook)
A large section of Highway 58 over the Willamette Pass remained closed Saturday, from about milepost 13 on the Lowell Bridge in the east to Lake Crescent, 70 miles west. ODOT advised drivers to take alternative routes and avoid the area. Check the TripCheck page for the latest.
Power outages to reduce fire danger also affected other highways Saturday, ODOT said, advising travelers to watch for blacked-out traffic signals and debris on the roads. They also advised to expect heavy traffic late Saturday afternoon on Interstate 5 in Eugene around the Oregon Ducks football game.
Here are Saturday morning updates on Cedar Creek and other major Oregon wildfires – remember we have live Oregon wildfire dashboard status on our Fire Alert page:
Cedar Creek Fire September 10, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00am
Fast facts about the Cedar Creek Fire
Size: 51,814 acres Content: 12% Start Date: August 1, 2022 Location: 15 miles east of Oakridge, ORCause: Lightning Total Personnel: 862 Resources: 29 Engines 19 Crews 46 Heavy Equipment 8 Helicopters Current Status Emergency Fire Law. A Level 3 evacuation remains in effect for the greater Oakridge, Westfir and High Prairie area. The fire is expected to be high again today. Easterly winds, low humidity and high temperatures will continue today and begin to ease tomorrow. Where the winds are aligned with the terrain, tree fires and spot fire are expected. The fire will be carried with lichens and heavy fuels.
Wildfire Status in the Willamette National Forest and West Belt: The fire has not spread west of Highway 19. Firefighters are working to contain and improve the east flank. Spot fires passed south of Highway 58 on Kitson Ridge. Firefighters are working to contain the fire north of Forest Road 1928. Today’s fire is expected to be extreme with long-range spots and crown tracks. Expect a large plume of smoke to develop by mid-morning. East of Waldo Lake, the Alaska Incident Management Team has established two branches and six divisions to work on the Deschutes National Forest side of the Cedar Creek Fire. Where possible, direct attack water drops by helicopters are made at the south-east end. Crews are preparing Road 4290 from Charlton Lakes to Cascade Lakes Highway to control the fire’s spread to the southeast.
To prevent the fire from spreading eastward, efforts are focused on shaded fuel breaks 100-200 feet deep on both sides of Cascade Lakes Highway. Crews are working in the Brown Mountain area south of Crane Prairie Lake and working north. From the north, crews are working from the 2017 Nash Fire burn area near Elk Lake and improving fuel outages on both sides of Cascade Lakes Highway working south. Additional contingencies are being sought for east of Cascade Lakes Highway.
Weather: A RED FLAG warning is in effect today due to hot, dry and windy conditions. Easterly winds will continue today and turn to westerlies tomorrow. Towards the afternoon the valley will be windy. Poor overnight moisture levels will allow for an extended burn window.
Closure: The Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest have implemented closures for the Cedar Creek Fire. Visit Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest for detailed closure orders and a shared map. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). Drones are not allowed 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.
Restrictions: There are fire restrictions on the Willamette National Forest and the Deschutes National Forest.
Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks are available at for mobile emergency alerts by going to oralert.gov Contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office 541-682-4150 and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office 541-693-6911 for updates and changes. Go to see a map. Fire Information: 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 p.m. | Phone: 541-201-2335 | Email: [email protected]
Van Meter Fire Update:
Incident Commander: Tyler McCarty, ODF Team 3
Van Meter Fire
Klamath Falls, Ore. – Overnight, firefighters completed fire line around the southern edge of the fire and continued to secure the perimeter in other areas. Matt Flock, Chief of Operations, reminded resource persons during the briefing, “Completing this line helps to lock down the fire, but there is still an incredible amount of work that remains out there as we move into sweep and continue to expand the cold area around the Fire.” Smoke may be visible today as unburnt fuel is consumed within the fire.
As work moves to mopping up and securing the fire line in the southern area of the fire, hoses will be constructed to provide water to all areas of the fire. Air assets will continue to provide moderate fire support as required. In the northern area of the fire, where it is already underway, firefighters will be patrolling for hot spots and smoke and mesh for heat. The goal is to expand the area from the established fire line to the interior of the fire.
Structural resources will continue to monitor the areas around the homes, in coordination with wildland resources who will work to knit for heat and cold monitor these areas. Cold trailing is a process where firefighters look for signs of fire or smoke, feel the ground for heat, and use water to extinguish any areas where fire remains.
Due to little growth Friday and improved mapping of the existing perimeter, the fire is currently 2,502 acres.
Evacuation levels will continue to be reassessed throughout the day. For the latest updated evacuation information, visit the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at or call 541-205-9730. An evacuation shelter has been set up at the Klamath County Fairgrounds and Events Center in Klamath Falls for those displaced by the fire. Space is also available for large and small animals.
Residential traffic is permitted, but to ensure public and firefighter safety, the public is asked to stay away from the fire area. Bureau of Land Management lands in and around the fire area remain closed to the public.
No casualties have been reported in the fire. Falling debris and trees, ash and rattlesnakes continue to be safety concerns for firefighters on the line.
Low humidity and high temperatures remain in the forecast with some increased wind activity.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place around the fire to restrict any aircraft not associated with firefighting activities in the airspace. Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for drones. A drone flying in the area can land all operational aircraft and strike suppression activities.
Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires, September 10, 2022 Daily Update – 8:00 a.m.
Features: Cooler weather has somewhat moderated fire behavior in the timber, but the fire is still actively spreading through the grass. Structure protection preparations have been completed along Lostine Road. Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) special forces continue to assist…
