Single Publication

Retreat

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

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

August 7, 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: 45,588 acres

Containment: 64%

Resources: 543 Total Personnel; 4 Dozers; 12 Hand Crews; 27 Engines

Key Messages:  

Hand and aerial firing operations were conducted on the northwest side of the fire, firing operations were successful.  Large scale firing operations are now complete. Today is a shadow day in preparation for transition between Incident Management teams. California Team 14 will be shadowing Northern Rockies Team 1, and a transfer of command will take place at 6:00am on August 8. NR Team 1 appreciates the support of the local community during our time on this 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 lines to ensure that no heat or fire pushes on the line and to extinguish hot spots where needed during today’s work shift. 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 continued to mop up along the containment line and checked on the structure protection equipment that remains around the structures at Camp Ghormley and along Lost Lake Road. The heavy equipment group worked on constructing a shaded fuels break along an interior road that runs parallel to Forest Roads 1200 and 1201. Resource Advisors were on site to help evaluate the route and minimize any impacts from the work being done. The fuel break is being constructed as a contingency line.

Firing operations continued along the northwest side of the fire area and crews progressed to the south using the Bethel Oak Trail. A short amount of aerial ignition was completed working back to the east on the top of the ridge line as an alternative to bringing a line south to Highway 12. This ridge line follows the north side of the 2012 Wild Rose Fire scar with the intent of using it as a control feature. Aerial ignition actions had to stop due to increased wind speeds in the afternoon, but enough firing was completed, and the area continued to burn in the interior to achieve the intended results. Crews will monitor and hold the line today.

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. Winds gusted up to 35 mph but subsided from mid-morning to late afternoon, then returned to west to northwest and gusting to 30 to 35 mph by early evening. Today is expected to be mostly sunny with temperatures from 80 to 88 degrees and minimum humidity levels of 23 to 37%. Winds will be from the northwest at 1 to 5 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 with dead fuel component. Timber litter above 5000 foot elevation is dry and contributing to active fire behavior with group torching. At high 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/