Cedar Creek Fire morning update Sept. 3, 2022
5 min read
Increased fire activity Friday prompted evacuation notices for areas around the Cedar Creek fire.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 (Go) Evacuation Order for the north and northeast side of Waldo Lake that includes several national forest recreation facilities. Please check evacuation status before traveling to Waldo Lake.
The Willamette National Forest issued a closure order for the Cedar Creek Fire area and recreation sites and trails nearby:
- Islet Campground, North Waldo Campground and Harralson Horse Camp
- All dispersed camping and recreation in the area east of the Waldo Lake shoreline between the United State Forest Service forest closure to the north, and south to just north of Shadow Bay Campground, and east to the Charlton Lake and Taylor Lake areas.
- At the time, Shadow Bay Campground was not included in the evacuation notice.
- Forest Service Road 19 (Aufderheide Drive) from milepost 20 (just east of Kiahanie Campground) to milepost 35 (south of Roaring River Campground). This includes the Box Canyon Campground, Box Canyon Staging Area/Horse Camp and Skookum Creek Campground and all surrounding dispersed camping areas.
- Irish and Taylor Lake campgrounds and dispersed camping in the Charlton and Taylor lakes areas and north along the Pacific Crest Trail to Lindick Lake.
Level 3 means ‘Leave immediately! Do NOT take time to gather things. GO NOW!‘ There is immediate and imminent danger and you should evacuate immediately.
Conditions across the Cedar Creek Fire remained unseasonably warm and dry as the upper level ridge lingered over the region. Relative humidity recovery was moderate below 3000 feet, around 60 percent, with morning temperatures in the 60s. However, conditions were drastically different above the inversion (around 3500 feet) where relative humidity recovery was poor. Relative humidity above 3500 feet rose to around 60 percent for a few hours late Thursday night.
However, a light easterly drift off the Cascades resulted in a warmer and drier air mass moving across the fire which resulted in relative humidity values above 3500 feet falling into the teens during the early morning hours.
Based on these conditions NWS Portland issued a Red Flag Warning for Dry and Unstable Conditions above 3500 feet for Fire Weather Zone 608 which includes the Willamette National Forest and the Cedar Creek Fire.
The poor RH recovery Thursday night allowed the fire to remain active overnight and become active early in the day Friday.
Temperatures during the afternoon rose into the mid 80s to low 90s, with relative humidity values between 10 and 20 percent. During the morning hours winds below the inversion were terrain driven less than 5 mph, with winds above the inversion out of the southeast at 4-7 mph with gusts to 15 mph. During the afternoon winds shifted to the west 3-7 mph, with gust to 15 mph above 3500 feet. Transport winds were generally out of the south to southwest at 5 to 10 mph.
Primarily surface fire spread with 2-6 foot flame lengths, backing, and flanking. Group torching and crown runs we able to develop due alignment of slope, wind and low RHs. Roll-out on steeper slopes is adding to perimeter growth on lee sides. Heavy fuels continue to consume and burn out. Lichen/moss on the trees contribute to active fire when RH falls below 30%.
Fire growth has increased toward Furnish Creek in the northern area of the fire. The fire spotted over the retardant line in the southeast area of the fire near Nettle Creek. The north section burned into an older burn scar.
Current Situation (Saturday a.m.):
Last night, relative humidities recovered well, this combined with lingering clouds throughout the morning will help the fire be less active because of higher moisture levels in the atmosphere. Once the sun comes out in the afternoon fire activity will increase but growth is anticipated to be less than yesterday.
Today’s Activities:
The northern part of the fire reached an area that is safer to staff today. Fire crews are making deliberate choices on engaging the fire where chances of success are high. In the southwest area of the fire crews will be holding the fire along roads and fire lines. Holding means to watch out for any spot fires across fireline and extinguish them. Operations will also consider burning back into the fire where feasible. Helicopters will be helping with water drops when visibility allows.
Evacuations: Increased fire activity has prompted an increase in evacuation levels for areas around the Cedar Creek Fire.
LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) is in effect for
• Islet Campground, North Waldo Campground and Harralson Horse Camp. All dispersed camping and recreation in the area east of the Waldo Lake shoreline between the United State Forest Service, forest closure to the north, and south to just north of Shadow Bay Campground, and east to the Charlton Lake and Taylor Lake areas. Forest Service Road 19 (Aufderheide Drive) from milepost 20 (just east of Kiahanie Campground) to milepost 35 (south of Roaring River Campground). This includes the Box Canyon Campground, Box Canyon Staging Area/Horse Camp and Skookum Creek Campground and all surrounding dispersed camping areas. Irish and Taylor Lake campgrounds and dispersed camping in the Charlton and Taylor lakes areas and north along the Pacific Crest Trail to Lindick Lake.
LEVEL 2 (BE SET) is in effect for
• The area between Taylor Lake and Lemish Lake along the Taylor Burn Road, including the Many Lakes and Metolius-Windigo Trailheads. Level 2 means: You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice, and this may be the only notice that you receive.
Please contact Lane County Sheriff’s Office if you have questions. 541-682-4150
Weather: Seasonal temperatures in the lower 90s. Clouds in the morning will burn off as the day heats up.
Closures: An expanded Area Closure is in place as of August 23rd for the Cedar Creek Fire. This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake. 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.
Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook.
Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 541-201-2335 | Email: 2022.cedarcreek@firenet.gov
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
Waldo Lake marks the headwaters of the Willamette River, 300 miles from its confluence with the Columbia River. At 11,500 square miles, the Willamette River Basin has the largest area of any watershed within the administrative boundaries of the state of Oregon.
