There is a closure order that covers parts of four forests. It doesn't impact the Cedar Creek Fire but may impact your travel plans.  The map and order are on the map page.

 Westfir, Aug. 5, 2022 9:30 am – Things slowed down a bit on the Willamette National Forest yesterday. There were no new fires and no new holdover fires found from the recent lightning storm. Slightly cooler weather calmed fire behavior and allowed at least one fire to reach containment.

Firefighters were able to complete line around the 4 acre Le Conte fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness on the McKenzie Ranger District. Fire #204 in the same area has been contained at 1/10th acre and the smokejumpers that have been on the fire are being flown off today.

The Potter Fire was active but with slow, backing behavior and crews were able to get more line around it. It is 149 acres.

The Type 1, PNW2 Team, in-briefed last night to take over management of the Cedar Creek Fire with Incident Commander Mike Minton.  The transfer of command will happen tonight at 8:00 pm after the new team has a day to shadow local staff and gain better situational awareness.  During the transition, local crews and fire managers will continue operations and have three Type 1 helicopters and one Type 3 helicopter available for use. All aviation is based at Oakridge Airport which is closed to all but fire related air traffic.

The Cedar Creek Fire has moved directly east and last night’s infrared shows it to be 1054 acres. Infrared flights are the most common way of measuring acreage change. A plane flies over the fire late at night, in this case at 9:44 pm, and uses special technology to measure heat on the ground.  Areas with stripes indicate intense heat while areas with dots indicate scattered heat. Crews will also be wrapping the historic Waldo Lookout with a heat reflecting material to try and keep it safe if the fire moves north.

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The entire Waldo Lake Wilderness area is closed due to the Cedar Creek Fire.  This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake.  The lake itself remains open as well as campgrounds on the east side.  However, the closure may include the east side in a few days so remain aware and prepared.  The official closure order and the map will be posted here when available.

The Cedar Creek Fire, which was detected Monday about 3.5 miles west of Waldo Lake on the Willamette National Forest after a lightning storm, made a significant move north and east last night.  The fire is now around 1200 acres burning in heavy timber. The forest is closing the entire Waldo Lake Wilderness area as a precaution as the fire is headed in that direction, away from the community of Oakridge.

While there is no need to panic, local engines patrolled the area last night to get campers and other recreationists out of the area and are continuing that effort this morning.  In addition, the public can expect a reverse 911 call at some point.  Anyone with friends or family recreating in that area or headed that way, are asked to try to contact them, and inform them of the closure and the need to leave the area.

The two fires in the Three Sister Wilderness area reported last night are being staffed this morning by smokejumpers.  One is 5 acres and one is 1/10th of an acre.

 A new fire called the Cedar Creek Fire, a holdover caused by the lightning over the area in the last few days, is about 500 acres and approximately one mile west of the Black Creek Trailhead on the 2421 road, about 18 miles due east of Oakridge, Oregon and 3.5 miles west of Waldo Lake, and about 6 miles north of Highway 58. An emergency closure is in place in the area. Hikers and other forest users are asked not to use trails off the Forest Service roads 2421 or 2424. The fire is continuing to be very active, moving north, spotting in all directions and putting up a large plume.

The Cedar Creek Fire was reported as a single smoke late on Monday, August 1st, as local crews were scrambling to respond to 20 or 30 fire reports.  A load of helicopter rappelers were sent in Tuesday, August 2nd, but turned down the assignment, reporting the terrain was too hazardous for safe access. As other options were considered, two other firefighters were sent in along the 2421 road to find an access point. They did locate the fire and estimated it to be five acres at that time. A helicopter was assigned to make water drops most of Tuesday as the forest tried to find a safe route to bring in more firefighters.

An early detection flight today, August 3rd, estimated the new size at about 100 acres. A helicopter was assigned again today, however, it experienced a mechanical issue and a Type 2 helicopter proved to be ineffective.  Another Type 1 helicopter has been ordered along with a Type 1 Incident Management Team.  Crews assigned to the fire were pulled back for a number of reasons: there was no reliable safe access to the fire, there were no escape routes for firefighters on the ground and so far, there are no apparent natural barriers available for firefighters to stop the fire, especially without available air support. Fire managers are continuing to work to find a way to get firefighters to the fire.

Date/time: 8/5/2022 9:00 am
Containment: 100%
Acres: 251
Structures lost: 0
Structures saved: 3 

Firefighters worked diligently yesterday late into the evening, and were able to fully contain the fire at approximately 9:00pm last night. Air resources including 2 T1 helicopters, a very large air tanker (VLAT), and three large air tankers played a crucial roll in assisting ground resources in containing the fire. 
Local fire departments successfully protected and saved the 3 structures that were threatened by the fire. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated, and law enforcement will be on scene today to continue the investigation.
Today, dozer crews will be on scene to monitor the smoldering fire, and continue mop up operations. 

COW CANYON FIRE
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar

August 11, 2022

CONTAINMENT: 80%

CAUSE: Under Investigation

PERSONNEL: 159

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 5

Engines: 7

Dozers: 2

Water Tenders: 4

FIRE INFORMATION 8/11:

509-557-0063

2022.cowcanyon@firenet.gov

FIRE INFORMATION FROM 8/12 ONWARDS:

360-706-3121

ryan.rodruck@dnr.wa.gov

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo 
 
 
 

The fire is currently located approximately 11 miles north of Naches, WA through the Manastash border of Yakima and Kittitas Counties.

Today is Northwest Incident Management Team 12’s last day on the Cow Canyon Fire. Management of remaining firefighting resources will transition back to the Southeast Washington Department of Natural Resources tomorrow morning. Northwest IMT 12 would like to thank the Naches Valley School District for hosting firefighters at the Naches High and Middle Schools. We also would like to thank the Ellensburg Rodeo and Kittitas County Fairgrounds for hosting the Incident Command Post, and thank you to the local community for your support and hospitality!

Weather

The Cow Canyon Fire area will be cooler today, with temperatures in the lower 80s. A cold front will be moving through the Pacific Northwest on Saturday, bringing lower temperatures and strong and gusty winds.

Operations

Yesterday, firefighters patrolled around the fire, mopped up, and continued to work repairing fire containment lines. This work is ongoing as most of the resources on the Cow Canyon Fire are completing their last shift today. Fire crews on the Cow Canyon Fire remain ready to assist local agencies with any new fire starts in the area. Fire equipment, hoses, and all litter is being collected and removed from control lines, roads, and staging areas.

Most remaining resources on the Cow Canyon Fire will demobilize from the fire at the end of the day today; some local Department of Natural Resources firefighters and engines will remain to patrol the fire after NW IMT 12 leaves tomorrow.

Closures

In Kittitas County, Manastash Road is now open. Cove Road south of Manastash Road, and Umptanum Road south of Shushuskin Ridge Road remain closed. 

In Yakima County North Wenas Road is closed at Maloy Road; Maloy Road and Audubon Roads are also closed.

Local traffic is permitted to access residences and private property. In the interest of public safety, the entire Wenas Wildlife Area, Umptanum Falls and Manastash Ridge Trail (Manastash Book) are closed.

The fire is currently located approximately 11 miles north of Naches, WA through the Manastash border of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather

It will be warm and dry in the Cow Canyon Fire area today, with temperatures in the upper 80s. There is a chance for thunderstorms today and tonight.

Operations

No storms or strong winds impacted the fire area yesterday, so firefighters continued working on mop-up farther into the interior of the fire. Firefighters continued mapping and repairing dozer fire lines on the inside of the fire, as well as removing hazardous fire-weakened trees for safety along roads. Fire crews and equipment from the Cow Canyon Fire were sent last night to assist with a new start, the Mohr Fire.

There remains a possibility of thunderstorms today. Firefighters are mopping up and patrolling along containment lines on the Cow Canyon Fire and remain watchful for any flare-ups due to strong outflow winds from passing storms or new lightning-caused fires. Decreasing activity on the Cow Canyon Fire requires fewer resources, allowing excess equipment and crews to be demobilized to rest and refurbish equipment and be prepared to assist on other fires in the region.

Closures

Although evacuation levels have been reduced to 1 (be ready) across the fire area, some closures remain for public and firefighter safety.

In Kittitas County, Manastash Road is now open. Cove Road south of Manastash Road, and Umptanum Road south of Shushuskin Ridge Road remain closed. 

In Yakima County North Wenas Road is closed at Maloy Road; Maloy Road and Audubon Roads are also closed.

Local traffic is permitted to access residences and private property. In the interest of public safety, the entire Wenas Wildlife Area, Umptanum Falls and Manastash Ridge Trail (Manastash Book) are closed.

COW CANYON FIRE
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
 

August 9, 2022
 

SIZE: 5,832 acres

CONTAINMENT: 40%

CAUSE: Under Investigation

PERSONNEL: 388

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 14

Engines: 14

Dozers: 5

Water Tenders: 8

Helicopter: 1

FIRE INFORMATION:

509-557-0063

2022.cowcanyon@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo

The fire is currently burning approximately 11 miles north of Naches, WA through the Manastash border of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather

Hot and dry conditions will continue today, with temperatures in the low 90s in the Cow Canyon Fire area. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory through 11 PM tonight. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow.

Operations

Hotter weather today combined with the threat of thunderstorms this evening and tomorrow have firefighters watchful for any new ignitions from lightning strikes or increases in fire behavior on the Cow Canyon Fire. Strong outflow winds from passing storms could also reignite smoldering vegetation and experience rapid fire growth. Fire crews around the fire are prepared to defend existing containment lines and quickly engage new fire starts if needed.

Firefighters worked on mop-up farther into the interior of the fire yesterday, including near islands of unburned fuels around retardant lines created by tanker planes. Fire crews are mopping up around these retardant patches to ensure no smoldering fire could be coaxed back to life by the forecasted weather and threaten containment lines. Firefighters are repairing dozer fire lines on the inside of the fire, as well as removing hazardous fire-weakened trees for safety along roads.

Closures

Although evacuation levels have been reduced to 1 (be ready) across the fire area, some closures remain for public and firefighter safety.

In Kittitas County Manastash Road is closed at Cove Road and Umptanum Road (Ellensburg Pass) is closed at Shushuskin Road.

In Yakima County, North Wenas Road (Ellensburg Pass) is closed at Maloy Road. Maloy Road and Audubon Roads are also closed.

Local traffic is permitted to access residences and private property.

In the interest of public safety, the entire Wenas Wildlife Area, Umptanum Falls and Manastash Trail (Manastash Book) are closed.

Weather

Today will be hot and dry, with temperatures in the mid-90s in the Cow Canyon Fire area. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for noon today through Tuesday night. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Operations

Yesterday in the northwest portion of the fire, a helicopter completed water bucket drops to cool hot spots in areas of unburned fuel inside containment lines. Several additional resources and fire crews were reassigned to the Cow Canyon Fire due to decreasing activity on the Vantage Highway Fire.

The warmer temperatures and drier air have the potential to increase fire behavior today. Firefighters will be vigilant with these changing weather conditions as they continue to strengthen and add depth to existing control lines around the fire. Fire crews and engines from the Cow Canyon Fire are available to respond to any new fire starts nearby. Several Interagency Hotshot Crews have been working on securing a complex piece of the northwestern fire boundary in rugged terrain, and they will continue that work today. Around the remaining fire perimeter, fire crews will mop-up and patrol, looking for any remaining heat sources near fire control lines.  

Closures

The entirety of the Wenas Wildlife Area is temporarily closed for human safety due to the Cow Canyon Fire.

Evacuations

All evacuations for the Cow Canyon Fire in both Yakima and Kittitas Counties were downgraded to level 1 yesterday.

Evacuation details for Yakima County are at https://www.facebook.com/YakimaCountyOEM and

for Kittitas County are at https://tinyurl.com/2225ruhs.