First Oakridge-area evacuees arriving at LCC, fairgrounds shelters in Eugene

Adam Duvernay and Chris Pietsch, Register-Guard
·3 min read
A bus carrying evacuees from the Oakridge area arrives at Lane Community College Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.
A bus carrying evacuees from the Oakridge area arrives at Lane Community College Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.

The first evacuees from the Oakridge-Westfir area began arriving at the temporary evacuation center Lane Community College on Friday night.

The Oakridge-Westfir area is under a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order because of the Cedar Creek Fire.

At the fairgrounds, Lane County Health and Human Services Assistant Director Kachina Inman said she expects her team will be working through the night helping evacuees.

Get the latest wildfire updates:Level 3-go now notice ordered for Oakridge, Westfir, High Prairie

Officials are asking all people who evacuated to let the county know so they can be directed to resources. Checking in with the county will help assure that residents can be connected with resources after the fire, Inman said.

Signs direct evacuees where to check-in at Lane Community College Friday. Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. after the towns of Oakridge, Westfir and High Prairie were issued a level 3 "go now" evacuation notice that evening.
Signs direct evacuees where to check-in at Lane Community College Friday. Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. after the towns of Oakridge, Westfir and High Prairie were issued a level 3 "go now" evacuation notice that evening.

“We want to make sure we’re connecting them to the proper resources,” Inman said. “We’re really trying to get people here who don’t have a place to go.“

People who can check in on their phones and have accommodations should check in with the county online. There are devices at LCC that evacuees can use.

Evacuees can sign in with the county, as well as other resources, at bit.ly/CedarCreekFireInfo

Mavis Pas, left, checks with staff at the Lane Community College evacuation center while trying to find her husband after evacuating from Oakridge Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.
Mavis Pas, left, checks with staff at the Lane Community College evacuation center while trying to find her husband after evacuating from Oakridge Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.

Mavis Pas spent all day evacuating horses and other animals from Oakridge, but by the time she was ready to go back and fetch her husband the Level 3 evacuation was in effect. Pas hasn't heard from him since — so now she's looking for him at LCC.

"I'm not sure if my husband is here or not," she said through tears. "He's 90 years old. He wouldn't come with me in the car. He said, 'Just come back and get me." Well, I came back and it was already Level 3. They said they'll pick him up, but I haven't heard anything."

Pas said she doesn't know what comes next or where she'll go.

"I haven't a clue. I haven't a clue. I truly did not expect it to get to this," Pas said.

Lane County's Colton Mobley brings in a pair of rabbits to a staging area at the Lane County Fairgrounds for animals evacuated from Oakridge area.
Lane County's Colton Mobley brings in a pair of rabbits to a staging area at the Lane County Fairgrounds for animals evacuated from Oakridge area.

County fairgrounds serving as overnight shelter

Pas brought her and friends' horses to the Lane County Fairgrounds, which is accepting evacuees' large and small animals. By 9 p.m. a dozen horses and goats joined three ducks, a chicken and three rabbits at the makeshift staging area for animal evacuees.

Those without anywhere to go or a way to check in should come to LCC first.

“If people are coming here and need somewhere to stay tonight, we’re going to triage and we’re going to send them over to the (Lane County) Fairgrounds and set them up over there,” Inman said.

Lester Roney with the Eugene American Red Cross responded from his home in Springfield to help set up an overnight shelter at the Lane County Fairgrounds after a Level 3 evacuation order was issued for Oakridge under threat from the Cedar Creek Fire.
Lester Roney with the Eugene American Red Cross responded from his home in Springfield to help set up an overnight shelter at the Lane County Fairgrounds after a Level 3 evacuation order was issued for Oakridge under threat from the Cedar Creek Fire.

An emergency center where people can stay overnight is being set up at the fairgrounds, she said. People also will be allowed to camp overnight at LCC.

Lester Roney from Springfield joined others with the Eugene American Red Cross as they hastily set up dozens of cots in a pavilion at the fairgrounds as the first evacuees from Oakridge arrived by bus.

Ron Loughrey made the decision to evacuate to Eugene from Oakridge during the Level 2 advisory early in the day.

"I have mobility issues and thought it best that I leave early," said Loughrey, as he arrived just before 9 p.m. Friday at the Lane County Fairgrounds on a bus with two others.

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. Loughrey decided to board a bus to Eugene during the Level 2 evacuation order that has since risen to Level 3 "go now" notice.
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. Loughrey decided to board a bus to Eugene during the Level 2 evacuation order that has since risen to Level 3 "go now" notice.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: First Oakridge-area evacuees arrive at Lane Community College