Cedar Creek Fire: Evacuation orders reduced in Oakridge area

Adam Duvernay, Register-Guard
·2 min read
Lakeview hotshots Kyle Wyatt, left, Cash Radowick and Damien Marichal work to secure a fire line on the west flank of the Cedar Creek Fire near Oakridge.
Lakeview hotshots Kyle Wyatt, left, Cash Radowick and Damien Marichal work to secure a fire line on the west flank of the Cedar Creek Fire near Oakridge.

Lane County officials have reduced the evacuation orders for the Oakridge area threatened over the weekend by the Cedar Creek Fire, which has been burning for more than a month but was driven west by a recent east wind event.

Westfir and parts of Oakridge between Laurel Butte and the Middle Fork Willamette River west of Fish Hatchery Road were reduced to level 1 Tuesday. Other parts of east Oakridge and High Prairie areas are now at level 2 as improving conditions allowed firefighters to keep making progress securing the wildfire's western edge.

Cooperative weather allowed for a reconnaissance flight Monday, after which the fire's estimated size was revised from 86,734 acres to 92,548 acres. The Cedar Creek Fire remains 0% contained with growth limited compared to recent days.

The east wind event Friday and Saturday put the greater Oakridge area under a level 3 evacuation, which now is lifted. Residents can return home but are being advised to stay ready to leave again should fire activity again shift westward.

Some camping and trails areas in Lane County on the fire's eastern side remain under a level 3 evacuation order.

See an online map of evacuation areas at bit.ly/CedarCreekEvacMap.

The Cedar Creek Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior Sept. 9, 2022 due to high temperature, low relative humidity and strong east winds.
The Cedar Creek Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior Sept. 9, 2022 due to high temperature, low relative humidity and strong east winds.

More:Cedar Creek Fire threats to Oakridge area diminished but not gone

Fire crews are improving western perimeter fire lines. The fire is actively burning and has been most active on the south side of Salmon Creek, according to an update from Pacific Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 3.

The fire is backing down toward containment lines, according to the update. Crews are preparing roads to be used as fire line including Forest Roads 19, 2409, 5871 and 5853. Recent light rains had limited impact on the fire's behavior.

Due to the improved fire conditions, two task forces were demobilized Monday so they can return to their home fire districts, according to the update. Five task forces from the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal are still at the fire.

Ron Loughrey arrives at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene with the first bus of evacuees arriving from Oakridge as the Cedar Creek Fire advanced toward Oakridge.
Ron Loughrey arrives at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene with the first bus of evacuees arriving from Oakridge as the Cedar Creek Fire advanced toward Oakridge.

The American Red Cross has been operating a shelter at the Lane Events Center, located at 796 W. 13th Ave. in Eugene, where it is providing food, restrooms, water, showers and access to health assessments and medication for evacuees.

Lane County spokeswoman Devon Ashbridge said 54 people remained in the shelter Tuesday morning, down from about 90 on Monday. The shelter remains open for those in need.

The Lane Transit District resumed its Diamond Express Bus service to Oakridge Tuesday, adding an extra stop at at 7:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. at the Lane County Fairgrounds where evacuated Oakridge area residents were sheltering.

The fairgrounds stop will be continued until further notice, the Lane Transit District said in a news alert.

Contact reporter Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@registerguard.com. Follow on Twitter @DuvernayOR.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Cedar Creek Fire: Evacuation orders reduced in Oakridge area