Highway 12 closed in WA due to fire near Rimrock

Washington wildfires, smoke and air quality

FOX 13 Meteorologist Abby Acone takes a look at the wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest and what that means for our smoke and air quality forecast.

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. - Highway 12 is closed in both directions near Rimrock Lake due to a fire, and Level 3 "GO NOW" Evacuations are in place.

Fire burning near Rimrock, Washington closes US-12 in both directions

The Washington State Department of Transportation sent out an update Thursday afternoon saying that US 12 is closed from the summit of White Pass to the junction of US 12 and State Route 410.

The road closure extended further east, as westbound traffic was reportedly stopped at Oak Creek on Wednesday. It's believed the fire had jumped the highway.

Eastbound traffic was reportedly stopped at the summit of White Pass (milepost 151), while westbound traffic was stopped at Oak Creek (milepost 183). (Photo: Washington State Department of Transportation)

Level 3 "GO NOW" Evacuations were issued for people living or camping in the Rimrock Lake area in Yakima County. Level 2 "GET SET" Evacuations are also in place for people in the area of Tieton Township.

Yakima Valley Emergency Management (YVEM) initially sent out the evacuation notices on Tuesday.

The Level 3 Evacuation zone includes:

All areas of Rimrock Retreat and any camper west of Rimrock Retirement
From Tieton Reservoir Path and US 12 Freeway to the east end of Windy Point Campground
Five miles north and five miles south on both sides of US-12, between Tieton Reservoir Rd. and Windy Point Campground
North side of North Wenas Road from Longmire Road to Maloy Road

(Photo: Yakima Valley Emergency

The Level 2 Evacuation zone includes:

Cowiche Mill Road east to Summitview Road
Summitview Road north to the four-way stop on West Tieton Road.
Tieton/Summitview Road intersection west to the end of West Tieton Road
End of West Tieton Road south to the 3600 block of Cowiche Mill Road
South side of North Wenas Road from Longmire Road to Maloy Road

Rimrock is about 40 miles east of Yakima. Another fire burning in Yakima County, the Black Canyon Fire, has also prompted officials to issue Level 3 "GO NOW" Evacuations, which are still in place as of Wednesday, July 24 at 9 a.m.

The Amercan Red Cross has opened a wildfire evacuation centerat Naches Valley High School. The Board of Yakima County Commissioners have also approved a Declaration of Emergency related to the Retreat/Rimrock Fire.