Single Publication

Retreat Fire

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

inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-retreat
 

Location:  14 miles southwest of Naches, WA

Start Date: July 23, 2024

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 45,588 acres

Containment: 64%

Resources: 536 Total Personnel; 4 Dozers; 14 Hand Crews; 37 Engines

Key Messages:  

On August 8, 2024, California Complex Incident Management Team 14 took command of the Retreat Fire at 6:00am and will continue to work on containing and suppressing the fire. 

The Highway 12 corridor remains closed to public travel for both firefighter and public safety. The fire remains very active along the highway and fire affected large trees continue to fall across the highway at unexpected times. The highway is expected to remain closed for several days.

Current Status:

The Retreat Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy prioritizing public and firefighter safety.

Yesterday, mop up work continued along the northeast, east, and south sides of the fire within the containment lines. Firefighters will continue to patrol the south, east, and northeast sides of the fire to ensure that no heat or fire threatens the line. Crews will also continue to extinguish hot spots where needed during today’s work shift. Patrol and mop up work will also continue on the west side and along the line north of the 2012 Wild Rose Fire scar. Tree falling modules are working on cutting hazard trees along the northern control lines and will be cutting additional hazard trees in the Highway 12 corridor.

In the southwest corner of the fire crews continue to mop up along the containment line and patrol the structures at Camp Ghormley, Lost Lake Road and along the Highway 12 corridor. The heavy equipment group continues to construct the shaded fuels break along an interior road that runs parallel to Forest Roads 1200 and 1201. The fuel break is being constructed as an alternate line.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Yesterday, cooler temperatures with highs from 70 to 86 degrees across the incident and slightly higher afternoon humidity levels around 30 percent came from a moderate to strong northwest wind pattern. Today is expected to be mostly sunny with temperatures from 80 to 87 degrees and minimum humidity levels of 20%. Winds will be from the northwest at 7 to 11 mph.

Winds caused active fire in mixed conifer and initiated some single tree torching and short-range spotting. Sage/grass fuels at approximately 4200-foot elevation and below are mostly cured and carry active fire spread. At higher elevations sage and grass are partially cured and burn in patches within the dead fuel component. Timber litter above 5000-foot elevation is dry and contributing to active fire behavior with group torching. At higher elevations, large diameter fuels are not burning fully and will likely continue to smolder and burn.

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 Aug. 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/