Single Incident Information

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to begin a post-fire burned area assessment of National Forest System lands that burned in the Davis Fire. BAER assessments usually take approximately two weeks to complete depending on size and complexity of the fire. 

The team typically coordinates with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal, state, counties, and local agencies as they assess potential post-fire impacts to the burned area on federal lands.

BAER is an emergency program designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures. Emergency response efforts are focused on the protection of human life and safety, and property, as well as critical cultural and natural resources.

BAER teams may consist of scientists and specialists including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, botanists, biologists, archeologists, cartographers, road engineers, etc. They conduct field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area. Teams also produce a report that describes potential threats associated with the burned area’s post-fire conditions and may include recommended emergency stabilization measures and actions. 
 
In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated. Severely burned areas steep slopes, and places where water runoff will be excessive and may impact important resources, are focus areas and described in the BAER assessment report if they affect critical values. Time is critical if the emergency stabilization measures are to be effective.