Single Publication

Retreat Fire

Northern Rockies Team 1, Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  14 miles southwest of Naches, WA

Start Date: July 23, 2024

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 29,503 acres

Containment: 18%

Resources: 473 Total Personnel; 8 Dozers; 11 Hand Crews; 29 Engines

Key Message:  

Firing operations will resume in multiple locations on the incident, and increased smoke will be very visible for the next several days. 

Current Status:

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

Resources on the Retreat Fire will finish construction of the primary control line around the perimeter of the fire today.  To achieve perimeter control on the east flank, crews conducted firing operations from Hatton Road north to French Road and mopped up fire line on the east and southeast sides of the fire along the Cowiche Road and Hatton Road close to the communities of Tieton and Cowiche increasing our containment of the incident. Firefighters completed the indirect control line on the north and northwest flanks yesterday and moved crews and equipment to the southwest side to build control line from Highway 12 south to the Jump Off Lookout. This work should be finished at the end of shift today.

Firing operations are planned to occur on the north side of the fire today as crews start the process of burning the fuels between the uncontrolled fire edge and the constructed control line on Bethyl Ridge. This fire suppression tactic is an effective method of reducing the available fuels ahead of an active edge, while reducing the potential for negative impacts and resource damage caused when high severity fire runs occur on timbered slopes. Once the firing operations create some depth along the line, crews will secure and mop up the edge as burning continues to be conducted in the interior. Crews will also work along the south side of the fire securing the edge and mopping up along those lines again today. 

Structure protection crews and engines continued to mop up by extinguishing hotspots near homes and infrastructure along the fire impacted Highway 12 corridor. They also continued to assess and prepare pumps and sprinklers around the structures at Camp Ghormley and along the Lost Lake Road west of the fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

A significant warming and drying trend is expected for the rest of the week as high pressure builds in from the south. Dry conditions with mostly sunny skies and low relative humidity are favored for today with primarily terrain driven winds. Lighter, inconsistent winds are expected today, but increased east-southeast flow is expected through the day on Thursday. Temperatures will range from 79 to 85 degrees and minimum relative humidity levels will be 28 to 35%. Winds will be east-southeast at 6-10 mph with gusts to 17 mph in the morning and will be northwest at 8-14 mph with gusts to 18 mph in the evening.

Three main fuel types exist: sage/grass, oak bottoms, and ponderosa forests. Grass in the appropriate fuel types is fully cured and readily available for ignition. While the oak trees are not consuming, intense grass fires below these trees could produce large embers capable of short-range spotting.

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. The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is scheduled to remain closed 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 forecasts can be found at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Resident Resources Before, During, and After the Fire:

There are many online resources available for Washington residents who are affected by wildfire.

Support for residents being affected by wildfires: https://afterthefirewa.dreamhosters.com/ 

Washington DNR Homeowner programs:  https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/cost-share