US 12 reopened over the weekend and firefighters are turning over command of the Retreat Fire to local units at the end of their Monday shift.
According to an update from California Interagency Incident Management Team 14 on Monday, the 45,601-acre fire is 85% contained.
The fire began on July 23 and raged along the Tieton River gorge along the U.S. 12 corridor. Evacuation orders were lifted Friday and the highway from the summit of White Pass to State Route 410 was reopened Saturday.
Drivers should expect longer travel times as some sections of the road are one-way. The Washington State Department of Transportation and emergency crews continue to work to replace guardrails and highway signs.
A storm Saturday night brought much-needed rain. Yakima received 0.15 inches of rain and Ellensburg received 0.09 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
There was also lightning. Officials with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest reported several new fires and smoke reports in central Washington following storms on Thursday and Saturday.
“As it warms up and last night’s rain eases, it is possible that more fires will occur,” it said in an update on Sunday.
Recreational activities remain closed in the Retreat Fire area, including parts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, parts of the Ahtanum State Forest and most of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.
Lodgepole Fire
The Lodgepole Fire started on August 5 near the Lodgepole Campground on State Route 410. The fire was 35 acres and 6% contained as of Monday morning, according to Inciweb. The fire, caused by lightning strikes, is located 16 miles west of Cliffdell.
The fire is located in the burn area of the 2017 Norse Peak Fire, which is littered with debris and dead trees. The stumps are dangerous for firefighters and make access difficult.
State Route 410 remains open.
Fire in the Williams Mine
The fire at the Williams Mine near Trout Lake was 5% contained on Monday morning, covering 11,555 acres. A total of 721 people were deployed, and firefighters from Canada’s Yukon Territory arrived over the weekend to assist, Inciweb reports.
The fire was sparked by a lightning strike on August 5 and is raging in and around the Mount Adams Wilderness.
The area saw 0.5 inches of rain, lightning and 1 inch of hail on Saturday. At least one lightning strike sparked a fire in the area, and aircraft and crews subsequently drew protective perimeters around it, Monday’s update said.
A lost mushroom picker was found by a fire marshal after spending the night near the fire area, the update said. After being cared for and provided with food and water, the hiker was safely brought home. Fire marshals remind people to be cautious when picking mushrooms and berries by staying in groups and being well prepared for emergencies while hiking.
Evacuations in the Trout Lake area have been reduced. Previous Level 3 “go now” evacuations are now at Level 2, and previous Level 2 evacuations are now at Level 1.
