Single Publication

Retreat Fire

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

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

August 1, 2024

Northern Rockies Team 1, Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  14 miles southwest of Naches, WA

Start Date: July 23, 2024

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 31,514 acres

Containment: 37%

Resources: 561 Total Personnel; 8 Dozers; 11 Hand Crews; 40 Engines

Key Message:  

Firing operations are complete on the east side of the fire.  Crews will work to mop-up and secure control lines on the south and east side of the fire.

Firing operations are planned over the next several days to secure indirect control lines on the north and west sides of the fire.  There will be an increase in smoke associated with these firing operations that will be visible from communities adjacent to the fire. 

The Highway 12 corridor remains closed to public travel for both firefighter and public safety. Fire affected large trees have been falling across the highway at unexpected times and firefighting crews and equipment continue to work in several locations. The highway is expected to remain closed for several more days.

Current Status:

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

Firing operations were completed from Hatton Road north to French Road connecting control lines on the east side of the fire. Containment increased along the southeast and east sides of the fire as crews continued to mop up and secure the line. Firefighters will continue to patrol and extinguish hot spots along the lines working towards additional containment closest to the communities of Tieton and Cowiche. Warmer and drier conditions allowed for firing operations to begin on the north side of the fire working along the Bethel Ridge Road (325) as an indirect line from both the east and west directions with hotshot crews. The firing operations generated smoke from the fire area but are intended to build a strong control line along the entire north side of the fire with the long-range goal of additional containment. 

Firefighters continued to patrol and extinguish hot spots along the south side of the fire mostly working directly along the fire’s edge. Crews and equipment continued to construct a control line from Highway 12 south to Jump Off Lookout on the southwest corner of the fire. Late afternoon easterly winds caused some small spot fires to start in the area just west of the fire. Crews and a helicopter were nearby and able to respond and keep the spot fires in check. The night shift patrolled and monitored these spot fires overnight. 

Structure protection crews and engines continued to patrol and extinguish hotspots near homes and infrastructure along the fire impacted Highway 12 corridor as well as clear fallen trees and rocks. Structure crews 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 area.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Warmer temperatures and drier conditions were observed over the fire area yesterday with terrain driven winds. The warming and drying trend will continue today. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s to 90s and relative humidities will decrease to the 20 to 30 percent range. Winds will primarily be surface heating driven and from the southeast around 8 to 14 mph with gusts to 15 to 20 mph.

Yesterday was the start of a significant warming and drying trend. Lower elevations with sagebrush and grass had surface fire spread with single tree and group torching. In the mixed conifer trees fire activity increased with ground fire movement and single tree torching with short range spotting. Three main fuel types exist in the fire area: 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 burning fully, 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