Overview: Cloud conditions were seen over the fire areas yesterday, bringing cooler conditions and moisture with the monsoonal low-pressure system coming in from the south the day before. Damper conditions are favorable for reducing fire behavior today. Showers and thunderstorms are to be expected throughout the weekend, with the potential for wetting rain and light winds., with smoke less visible from nearby communities than in past days.Fire behavior was quiet yesterday, with minimal growth due to precipitation over the fire area and the incoming cold front in the afternoon. Although both fires receive and expect moisture throughout the weekend, these showers will not entirely extinguish the fire. Even though wet conditions are present, fire still has the potential to spread. It will stay active in isolated spots around the uncontrolled fire edge, especially in areas where dry pockets of fuel under canopy cover shelters from moisture. It will take a season-ending event to extinguish these fires fully. This event includes sustained lower temperatures, shorter burning periods, increased relative humidity, shorter sunlight duration, and significant moisture.

Summary: Fire managers are now utilizing two cameras that were hiked in by firefighters several days ago into the wilderness. A camera is placed at the Twin Peaks Lookout and Middle Fork Peak, providing views of both the Woodtick and Norton Fires. This equipment will help fire managers monitor changes in fire behavior and growth, reducing exposure and risk to firefighters on the ground and by air in inaccessible and rugged terrain.

Weather: Fire areas received warm, sunny conditions yesterday with a low-pressure system moving in from the south in the later afternoon. Today, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms expected to last through the weekend, with cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and the potential for light winds with gusts up to 20 mph. This weather should provide favorable conditions for reducing fire behavior. Fire still has the potential to spread and will stay active in isolated spots around the uncontrolled edge of the fire, possibly visible from nearby communities.

Woodtick Fire:  Fire behavior was quiet yesterday with minimal growth due to the incoming low-pressure system and cloud cover arriving in the afternoon. The Martindale Creek area continues to be most active, and crews are looking for opportunities to take action if needed. Firefighters are monitoring areas where structure protection has been completed and are beginning to remove unneeded equipment and supplies from the Camas Creek Road corridor. 

Weather: Dry And warming conditions continue to be anticipated through Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the region. Today will remain warm and sunny but will start to cool as the wind picks up in the later in the day. By the evening, the incoming monsoonal moisture from the south brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Fire still has the potential to spread and will stay active in isolated spots around the uncontrolled edge of the fire, possibly visible from nearby communities.

Woodtick Fire: Firefighters continue monitoring the fire’s edge, keeping an eye on areas of concern, especially around Martindale Ridge, where the fire was most active yesterday. Crews will also look for possibilities to utilize aerial or hand ignition for tactical burning operations when conditions are favorable. Fire managers continue to use structure protection strategies, developing plans for future protection measures to lessen the risk to existing properties within the vicinity of the fire. Structure assessments are still in progress, looking for areas of concern, including Meyers Cove off Camas Creek and other locations where structures exist around the fire area. Crews working near Meyers Cove continue to hold and secure the fire’s edge upstream along Camas Creek. Considering the recent fire activity, predicted moisture in the next few days may minimize fire activity throughout the week.

Norton Fire: The fire was active yesterday in the northern perimeter, increasing by 43 acres to a total of 180. Air resources were utilized to monitor and assess the fire, which allowed fire managers to establish management action points that will trigger reassessing management strategies if the fire becomes more active. Structure protection plans continue to take place, allowing firefighters to make a plan for protection in the future if needed.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): A TFRs remain in effect over both fire areas. More information can be found on the Federal Aviation Administration website at: https://tfr.faa.gov

Evacuations for Woodtick: Evacuation orders issued by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office remain in effect for residents at Camas Creek.  They are now in a GO status, which means immediate evacuation is necessary.  Residents at Castle Creek and Sliver Creek, including Ramshorn Creek are in READY status, meaning residents should prepare for the possibility of evacuation.  https://bit.ly/LemhiCountyEvacs

Closures: Two closures remain in effect on the Woodtick Fire in order to protect the public and firefighting resources. The Norton fire currently has no closures. To view the orders in their entirety and other information regarding the fires, please refer to: https://bit.ly/WoodtickFireClosure 

 Woodtick & Norton Fire Update for Monday, August 8th, 2022

Weather: Dry and warming conditions are anticipated through Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the region causing lower relative humidity, higher temps and potential thunderstorms in the next several days. Due to this trend, fire has been slightly more active on the Woodtick Fire.  Smoke may be visible from surrounding communities as fire activity increases. By Wednesday, a southernly flow will bring monsoonal moisture with a chance for shower and thunderstorms.

Woodtick Fire: The fire received a little precipitation only enough to cool things down briefly over the weekend; however, fire activity increased slightly yesterday afternoon, growing approximately 200 acres making its way southwest and down into the Martindale drainage. Yesterday, small spot fire below Meyers Cove on Camas Creek was detected and today firefighters will be assessing for opportunities to take action. Recent fire growth has resulted in increased smoke which may be seen by the surrounding communities near Challis.  Crews near Meyers Cove continue to watch for rolling materials, mop up and secure the fires edge where safe to do so. The fire is generally smoldering with a slow rate of spread due to sparse grass, brush and dead and down fuels. Air resources continue to monitor, looking for areas of concern and chances to act, if necessary.  

Norton Fire: With higher temperatures and lower humidity’s the fire increased slightly to approximately 17 acres. Fire behavior can still be described as creeping and smoldering. Today, air resources are being utilized to assess and determine management action points and continue structure assessments. Yesterday, crews hiked into the wilderness to set up a remote camera that will be utilized to help monitor change in fire behavior as well as growth.

The Norton Fire was started by lightning on August 1st, 2022. The fire is located approximately seven miles northwest of Lower Loon in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the Middle Fork Ranger District. The fire is burning in subalpine fir, Douglas fir, sagebrush, and grass.

Weather: Dry and warming conditions are anticipated through Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the region. The ridge breaks down and shifts east Wednesday as monsoon moisture surges north into the region fueling scattered showers and thunderstorms. 

The Norton Fire was started by lightning on August 1st, 2022. The fire is located approximately seven miles northwest of Lower Loon in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the Middle Fork Ranger District. The fire is burning in subalpine fir, Douglas fir, sagebrush, and grass.

Fire behavior yesterday was low/moderate on ridgetops creeping, smoldering and single tree torching observed. The fire is primarily moving to the Northeast. Crews are scouting and making contact with local property owners, while also forming a plan for a “Point Protection” strategy.

Weather: A low pressure trough will advance southeast through the region today with attending showers and thunderstorms advancing across mainly the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains this morning into the south zone with a more organized line of convection by early this afternoon. Most of this activity will be accompanied by wetting rains and elevated daytime humidity thus precluding the issuance of any Red Flag Warnings. Drier and more stable conditions will trail across the region tonight and Sunday. Look for much hotter and drier conditions returning to the region Monday into Tuesday. 

 Cedar Creek Fire UpdateAugust 15, 8:00 a.m.Acreage: 4,422Containment: 0%
Highlights: Crews resumed aerial ignitions with Plastic Sphere Dispensers (PSD) also known as “ping pong balls” on the southwest flank of the fire yesterday. In the Cedar Creek drainage, these incendiary devices are being deployed by helicopters and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) also known as “drones” to encourage fire movement to the south towards containment lines. Heavy equipment including feller bunchers, masticators, and graders continued working on roads in multiple areas of the fire, including along Forest Road (FR) 2419 and FR 1944 north of the fire area. Small diameter material is being removed and stacked during the construction of the shaded fuel break from Forest Road 24 south to Highway 58. Prep work also continued south of the fire area in the FR 5883 road system, which is now being considered a primary containment line after it was determined that there was no safe opportunity to construct fireline from Black Creek Road directly to Waldo Lake. 

Operations: With slightly warmer and drier conditions forecast for today, UAS and helicopters are expected to continue with aerial ignitions in the Cedar Creek drainage on the southwest flank of the fire. Firefighters have adapted their strategy to contain the southern fire perimeter and are now focused on building primary and secondary containment lines south of Black Creek Road. Heavy equipment will continue removing vegetation along the road and chipping small diameter woody material around Fuji Mountain today. Crews are still looking for opportunities to construct line through the roadless area to prevent the fire from moving south towards values at risk, and scout for options to construct a primary containment line south of Black Creek Road in the Bunchgrass Ridge area. Firefighters are working closely with Resource Advisors (READs) from the Willamette National Forest to ensure that critical natural and cultural resources in the area, including Waldo Lake, are protected and damage is minimized and mitigated.  Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place. Weather: Temperatures are expected to be 80-90 degrees with relative humidity predicted between 24-35 percent. Winds will be terrain driven in most areas with ridgetops and exposed areas seeing northwest winds 3 to 6 mph and gusts to 12 mph in the afternoon.  Closures: An Area Closure is in place for the Cedar Creek Fire. This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake. The lake itself, campgrounds, and trails (including the PCT) on the east side remain open. 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. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other fires will be prohibited, except in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heaters using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed if they can be switched on and off. Motorized vehicles may operate only on designated trails and roads, including within the Huckleberry Flats and Santiam Pass OHV areas. Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks (in both English and Spanish) are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook. Air quality in Oakridge, Oregon is expected to be good with the best time of day to recreate outdoors being late afternoon.  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

There will be an in-person community meeting at the Oakridge High School auditorium tonight, August 14, at 6:00 pm 
 For those who cannot attend the meeting in person, it will also be available
on Facebook at 6:00pm at this link:  https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/   
 

There will be an in-person community meeting at the Oakridge High School auditorium tonight at 6pm
The meeting will also be available for viewing on Facebook live at: https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/

Cedar Creek Fire, August 13, 2022
Acres: 4,136
Contained: 0%

Highlights: Firefighters have nearly completed the prep work along Forest Road (FR) 2417 north of the fire perimeter and Black Creek Road (FR 2421) south of the fire. This has included using heavy equipment like masticators as well as crews removing brush and piling small diameter woody material to be chipped. Interagency Hotshot Crews have been scouting for opportunities to construct a containment line to connect these two roads to Waldo Lake as the primary containment feature of this fire on the eastern flank. The crews have determined that connecting fireline to Waldo Lake from Black Creek Road was not a safe or effective option. Fire managers have adjusted their strategy and increased the temporary area closure around the Cedar Creek Fire to provide for the safety of the public and firefighters while also offering crews more flexibility to pursue other options to contain the southern perimeter of the fire.
 
Operations: Crews are expected to complete prep work along Black Creek Road and FR 2417 today. While some additional chipping may need to occur, these roads will be ready to be used as primary containment lines to hold and secure the perimeter. Firefighters anticipated being able to begin firing operations using aerial ignitions this weekend, but yesterday’s test fire was unsuccessful due to the dense forest canopy, higher relative humidity, and more moderate temperatures. As conditions become more favorable for ignitions, firefighters will resume firing operations. Heavy equipment will continue working on the contingency fireline and shaded fuel break from FR 19 down to Highway 58 using FR 2409 and Forest Road 5871 to protect the community of Oakridge. Additional work continues along FR 5883 and the surrounding roads north of Highway 58 to improve that road system as a contingency line below the primary containment lines along Black Creek Road.

Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place.

Weather: Seasonally moderate temperatures are forecast for Saturday with mostly sunny skies with a high of 80 degrees. The relative humidity is predicted between 28-38 percent. Winds will be terrain driven in most areas with ridgetops and exposed areas seeing northwest winds 3 to 6 mph with gusts to 11 mph in the afternoon.Closures: An Area Closure is in place for the Cedar Creek Fire. This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake. The lake itself, campgrounds, and trails (including the PCT) on the east side remain open. 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. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other fires will be prohibited, except in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heaters using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed if they can be switched on and off. Motorized vehicles may operate only on designated trails and roads, including within the Huckleberry Flats and Santiam Pass OHV areas.

Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks (in both English and Spanish) are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook. Air quality in Oakridge, Oregon is expected to be good with the best time of day to recreate outdoors being late afternoon.

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://tinyurl.com/99hdyvjn