YAKIMA- The Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District has declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing Rimrock Retreat fire. The wildfire, which ignited on July 23, has rapidly spread and now poses a significant risk to our critical infrastructure.
Current Situation:
The fire started near our river diversion, located upstream of Rimrock Retreat.
The path moving west is traversing down the Tieton Canyon, through steep heavily forested hillsides, alongside our 114yr old main canal.
Long-term delivery interruptions are imminent if the structure is impacted by slides, trees, or debris while conveying current water levels for normal district operations.
A system-by-system “rolling shutdown” is being implemented to reduce canal levels and minimize environmental and infrastructure risks.
The shutdown schedule and all other pertinent information will be available on the District’s website
Immediate Actions:
1. Please refer to the Yakima County Emergency Management’s website or Facebook page for current evacuation orders.
2. For up-to-date Rimrock Retreat fire information please refer to DNR’s website