The Cedar Creek Fire was a large wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon that began on August 1, 2022, with a series of lightning strikes in the Willamette National Forest approximately east of Oakridge.
By September 8, the fire had reached over . By September 10, it was over 74,000 acres; 30,000 foot high pyrocumulonimbus clouds from the fire were producing their own lightning; Oakridge was evacuated. Smoke from the fire moved into Southwest Washington then the Puget Sound region on September 10; on that day Seattle recorded the worst air quality of any major city in the world.
By September 11 it had grown to 86,000 acres. Over 2,000 homes were evacuated.
Events
August Late in the day on August 1, the fire was ignited by a lightning strike. It was first detected about west of Waldo Lake in the Willamette National Forest. Firefighters were slow to contain the fire, due to the rough and unsafe terrain surrounding the wildfire. The fire was estimated to be at around 5 acres on August 2, and was later estimated to be at on early in the day on August 3, and a later estimate that day stated it was .
On August 3, the fire started moving more north and east and started burning in heavy timber and by August 4, it had grown to around , and smoke was predicted to affect the cities of Bend and Sisters, Oregon. An infrared reading on August 5 sized the fire at around .
On August 15, the fire grew to 4,422 acres with 0% containment. An area closure of all trailheads and dispersed camping North and West of Waldo Lake and Temporary Flight Restrictions were in effect.
On August 27, the fire grew to 7,632 acres with 0% containment. Area closures remained in effect North and West of Waldo Lake. Calm weather provided better opportunities for fire suppression. Firelines were continuing to be constructed using minimum impact suppressrion tactics (MIST) to reduce negative impacts on the ecosystem.
September
On September 25, the fire grew to 114,104 acres with 20% containment. 44 engines, 28 crews, 68 heavy equipment, and 9 helicopters were staffed for fire suppression.
October
On October 27, the fire grew to 127,283 acres with 60% containment. Due to temperatures dropping and humidity rising, fire progression reduced drastically. 4 engines, 2 crews, 1 helicopter, and 2 masticators were staffed for fire suppression. Closures had reduced on the Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest. Air quality ranged from good to moderate within the forecasted area. Lane County evacuations had been lifted.
Impacts Smoke from the Cedar Creek Fire that blew into Seattle, to the north, caused the city to record the worst air quality of any major city in the world. Smoke also blew into the Eugene area.
Fire progression and containment
+Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;DateArea burnedin acres ContainmentAug 25Aug 3500Aug 41,200Aug 51,054Aug 61,438Aug 71,822Aug 83,234Aug 93,536Aug 103,772Aug 113,861Aug 123,948Aug 134,136Aug 144,256Aug 154,422Aug 164,657Aug 174,836Aug 184,836Aug 195,618Aug 206,528Aug 216,472Aug 227,012Aug 237,172Aug 247,264Aug 257,376Aug 267,602Aug 277,632Aug 287,654Aug 297,698Aug 307,821Aug 318,421Sep 18,817Sep 29,199Sep 316,303Sep 416,715Sep 517,625Sep 618,143Sep 718,143Sep 831,486Sep 933,099Sep 1051,814Sep 1185,926Sep 1286,734Sep 1392,548Sep 1492,595Sep 1592,596Sep 1693,427Sep 17110,361Sep 18112,287Sep 19113,322Sep 20113,637Sep 21113,637Sep 22113,637
References
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