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Forest Service BAER Engineers Assess Fire-Damaged Historic Black Rock Bridge within the Park Fire Burn Area

In 1934, the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Forest Service built an 800 mile long firebreak and access road called Ponderosa Way during the Great Depression—sadly much of which currently has fallen into disrepair. This firebreak is located through parts of Central California and runs all the way up into Oregon. Where the firebreak runs on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Ponderosa Way intersects the Northern California 2024 Park Fire.

Here on the Lassen National Forest, Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team engineers are currently assessing fire-damage to infrastructure caused by the Park Fire.  Lead Forest Service civil engineer, Todd Orange, from the Lassen National Forest and Nicole Thompson, Forest Service civil engineer, from the Stanislaus National Forest (Pictured in PDF document at Related Information link located below this article), along with Forest Service civil engineers Pablo Gonzalez, Marcos Rios, and Antonio Cabrera from the Sierra National Forest are also helping in the Park Fire BAER team engineering assessment.

The Black Rock bridge was built in 1955 which provides a vital transportation link over Mill Creek. The bridge is a part of the 800-mile Ponderosa Way Road that was built by conservation crews. Black Rock Bridge and Lower Deer Creek Bridge were both burned in the Park Fire and will also be considered for the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program (Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) | FHWA (dot.gov)). The Federal Highway Administration ERFO program assists federal agencies during natural disasters such as the Park Fire.

For additional information about the historic Ponderosa Way Road: A Firebreak Runs Through It | Living New Deal.

NOTE: See related photos to this article under the “Photos” Tab on this Park Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page: Calnf Park Postfire Baer Incident Photographs | InciWeb (wildfire.gov).

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

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