Efforts to combat the Retreat Fire are moving toward Rimrock Lake after firefighters successfully contained its eastern edge, but roads and power infrastructure are still facing challenges.
The blaze that started near Rimrock Retreat on July 23 has grown to 34,759 acres. It was 37% contained as of Friday morning, according to Inciweb, a government database for wildfires. A total of 614 personnel were working on the fire.
A Friday morning update said fire activity has increased in the interior of the blaze due to dry conditions and 90-plus-degree temperatures. That activity, along with controlled burning to set up lines on the north side of the fire, has increased smoke in nearby communities. Air quality was listed as unhealthy around Yakima on Friday morning.
U.S. Highway 12 between the White Pass summit and the “Y” junction with State Route 410 remains closed. Large trees have been falling across the road and firefighters continue to work along the route, Friday’s update said.
The Northern Rockies Incident Management team 1 overseeing work on the fire was focused earlier this week on stopping the fire’s eastward advance toward Cowiche and Tieton. Tim Love, a public information officer for the team, said those efforts have been successful.
As containment has increased in those areas, firefighting efforts have moved into the steeper terrain east of Rimrock Lake and around Oak Creek.
Structure crews tested and reinforced pumps and sprinklers around the structures at Camp Ghormley and along the Lost Lake Road west of the fire.
Power infrastructure damaged
The Retreat Fire has heavily damaged power infrastructure in the Rimrock area, said Troy Berglund, a general manager and vice president at the Benton Rural Electric Association. The fire caused power outages to 500 customers, extending to the summit of White Pass, he said.
On Tuesday, personnel from the Benton REA used a drone to conduct an early assessment of power lines and poles in the U.S. Highway 12 corridor.
The assessment is preliminary, but the damage is severe, Berglund said.
“It is going to be a long process to restore power. It’s not going to take weeks, it’s more on the months timeline,” Berglund said.
Power poles were down or damaged in many places, some of which are inaccessible by vehicle due to steep or difficult terrain.
Because the REA has only inspected infrastructure from the air, officials are still unsure about how much damage had been done and the total cost and time for repairs.
Crews were planning to enter the fire area to clear branches and better evaluate the damage. That would allow them to make a plan for repairing and rebuilding.
Berglund praised residents for their patience and understanding and said updates would be provided over email.
Closures and irrigation update
U.S. 12 remains closed due to downed trees and ongoing emergency operations, as do surrounding U.S. Forest Service and state lands. Love said structure teams continue to protect buildings along the U.S. 12 corridor.
The Yakima Tieton Irrigation District was in a full system shutdown this week as crews made emergency repairs to the main canal, which was damaged in the fire. Crews removed a large boulder, repaired damaged concrete and got rid of fallen trees.
The district began sending water back through the main canal on Thursday, and is providing water again with rotating shutoffs. A schedule and more information are posted at www.yakimatietonirrigation.com.
Evacuation levels remained unchanged as of Friday morning, with updates provided by Yakima Valley Emergency Management.
The cause of the Retreat Fire is under investigation.
Black Canyon Fire
The Black Canyon Fire in the Wenas area northwest of Selah was 99% contained as of Thursday afternoon.
The fire burned 9,211 acres, according to Inciweb, and its cause is under investigation.
Wapato-area fire
Yakima County Fire District 5 crews are mopping up a 30-acre brush fire that started Thursday afternoon in the 1400 block of North Camas Road near Wapato.
Firefighters, aided by a helicopter, two scooper aircraft and an air tanker were able to contain the blaze, which was burning into heavy timber, said fire Chief Ken Shipman.