The Cedar Creek Fire burns on the Willamette National Forest with smoke drifting east over the Deschutes National Forest on Sept. 4, 2022.
Dan Martin, NW IMT 6
Part of the Deschutes National Forest is closed for public safety due to the Cedar Creek Fire.
More than 20 trails, including dozens of miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, are closed from the Cascade crest to roughly the Three Sisters Wilderness boundary.
The Cedar Creek Fire was caused by a lightning strike reported on Aug. 1 and is burning on the Willamette National Forest about 25 miles west of La Pine. As of Monday, the fire is nearly 17,000 acres and 12% contained.
The fire is burning near Waldo Lake, which has acted as natural barrier to prevent the fire from moving east. Trailheads near Waldo Lake have been closed for weeks. Evacuations are in place for campgrounds around the Lake.
The National Weather Service in Portland warns that smoke from the Cedar Creek Fire will drift into Oakridge over the next 24 hours. Some smoke will likely drift into the southern Willamette Valley Tuesday.