OAKRIDGE, OR -- More areas of the Deschutes National Forest have reopened, as containment increases on the Cedar Creek Fire.

Jean Nelson-Dean, with the Forest Service says more sections of the Pacific Crest Trail are open along with all of Davis Lake, “We’ve completed the work we needed to do to provide a fuel break around the fire, and we’ve been able to move our heavy equipment out of the area. We’re opening up around Cultus Lake [but] not all of Cultus Lake. And Little Cultus Lake continues to be a closed area.”

The Cedar Creek Fire, now more than 127,000 acres is still smoldering. “Right now, it’s primarily interior burning, which can go on really until there’s a good layer of snow on the fire area,” said Nelson-Dean.

She added most visitors won’t notice fire damage along the road, “Unless they’re up in the Charleton Lake area or Little Cultus and near Cultus Lake. You are going to see impacts from the fire in those areas.”

A portion of the area around Cultus Lake is also reopened where Nelson-Dean says the resort was at risk, but spared, “The fire was headed directly toward Cultus Mountain and was making a pretty good run. And then, it just kinda got hung up and didn’t go and hit Cultus Mountain. We were all very concerned about that because there are some pretty heavy fuel loads in there.”

Higher elevations of the fire saw some snow over the weekend and containment is now at 55%. 

Visitors are encouraged to check with the local ranger district before heading out into the area.