YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash.-Federal funding has been authorized to help fight the Retreat Fire burning near Rimrock Lake.
The State of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved on Friday, July 26 after it was determined that the fire threatened to cause destruction that would constitute a major disaster, according to a FEMA press release.
The Retreat Fire threatened homes in Tieton, as well as the communities of Cowiche, and Town of Naches.
The fire also threatened multiple state highways, local cemeteries, churches, schools, recreation areas, local cultural and historical hunting and gathering grounds of the Yakama Nation, power lines, the Rimrock Dam and the Yakima Tieton Irrigation District.
Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause major disasters and are funded by the President’s Disaster Relief Fund, according to a press release on the funding.
