Oregon Governor Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act this afternoon as a preemptive measure in response to the Cedar Creek Fire. The fire is burning in the national forest east of the community of Oakridge in Lane County. This declaration allows the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to mobilize resources to support local fire service agencies in Lane County to carry out their plan to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure. Our office will be mobilizing resources to support and add capacity to the local fire agencies, and planning if the fire leaves the forest and moves closer to nearby homes and communities.
Pushed by gusty east winds, fire activity significantly increased Friday midday. As of Friday morning, the fire was approximately 33,100 acres. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for areas near the fire.
LEVEL 2 (BE SET) EVACUATION NOTICES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
- The greater Oakridge, Westfir, and High Prairie areas are now at Level 2 (Be Set), both incorporated and rural areas.
Level 2 means: You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice, which may be the only notice you receive to evacuate as needed.
Officials are asking residents to keep cell phones and any other devices used to receive emergency alerts charged. Residents should also make sure that they have adequate fuel to evacuate.
A map of evacuation areas is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CedarCreek.
In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Brown determined the fire poses a threat to life, safety, and property, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment. The governor’s declaration cleared the way for the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire and further support a coordinated response.
The Cedar Creek Fire has been burning in the wilderness for a month. Local fire service agencies increased staffing and plan to protect life and structures in the surrounding communities. The Oregon state fire marshal has been engaged with the fire defense board chief to determine fire response needs. This declaration clears the way for additional resources to support the local fire service agencies. The OSFM will continuously assess response needs with the forecasted weather and fire conditions and bring in additional task forces through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS).
Additional updates for the incident may be accessed at:
- Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Facebook page
- OSFM Incident Information Blog OSFMInfo.org
- Cedar Creek Fire Facebook page
- For Evacuations in Lane County Lane County Sheriff’s Office
Information on wildfire prevention and preparedness may be accessed at: