Single Publication

Retreat Fire

Fire Information: 509-213-4890    Email: 2024.retreat@firenet.gov

Location:  14 miles southwest of Naches, WA

Start Date: July 23, 2024

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 45,601 acres

Containment: 66%

Resources: 536 Total Personnel; 4 Dozers; 9 Hand Crews; 51 Engines

Key Messages:  

The Highway 12 corridor remains closed to public travel for firefighter and public safety reasons. Large fire-weakened hazard trees continue to pose a risk of falling on the highway at unexpected times. Smoldering hot spots remain along the corridor, which is expected to remain closed for several days.

Today, the fire area is under a red flag warning until 9 pm for thunderstorms and gusty winds. 

Current Status:

California Complex Incident Management Team 14 manages the Retreat Fire under a full suppression strategy, prioritizing public and firefighter safety. Firefighters are locating and removing hotspots and adding depth to control lines.

Fire crews will continue patrolling control lines to ensure no heat or fire threatens the line. Crews will also continue to extinguish hot spots where needed. The most heat and smoke are located on the fire's northwest side, where hotshot crew completed firing operations last week. Heavy equipment crews are constructing the shaded fuel break near Forest Roads 1200 and 1201. This shaded fuel break will be an alternate control line to protect structures in the Rimrock Lake area. Firefights continue to mop up and patrol around the structures at Camp Ghormley, Lost Lake Road, and the Highway 12 corridor. 

Firefighters and local agencies have begun identifying the needed fire suppression repair work and will be planning how to complete it in the coming weeks. 

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Last night, crews observed light rain and lightning across the fire area. However, they did not detect any new fire starts. The threat of thunderstorms continues on Saturday afternoon. Temperatures will remain the same as yesterday, but there will be a shift back to a westerly wind, and humidity will spike strongly. There is potential for single tree torching in the timbered elevations of the fire. Interior ponderosa pine stringers can continue to ignite and burn actively with single tree torching.

Closures and Evacuations:

For the most up-to-date information on evacuations, please visit Yakima County Emergency Management located at this link: Yakima Emergency Management website.

• US Hwy 12 remains closed between the Y at Hwy 410 and the summit of the Pass at milepost 151.
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Retreat Fire Closure: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=89192.
• The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Southeast Region has temporarily closed the Ahtanum State Forest due to increased activity from the adjacent Retreat Fire burning near Rimrock Lake. The public can access the most up-to-date closure information at www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the majority of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area to public access due to the Retreat Fire until August 23 to ensure public safety and facilitate firefighting efforts. More information can be found at Wildlife Areas | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE:

Air quality and smoke conditions and smoke outlooks can be found at https://www.airnow.gov/

Retreat Fire PIO Map - August 10, 2024

Sat, 08/10/2024 - 12:20

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Retreat Fire PIO Map - August 10, 2024

Retreat Fire PIO Map