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LAKE & APACHE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT UPDATE

August 4, 2024

Apache Post-Fire BAER Soil Burn Severity Map Released

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their data gathering and analysis for the Apache burned area to produce and finalize a soil burn severity (SBS) map. Forest Service BAER teams use the soil burn severity assessment of the burned area to ensure post-fire threats are identified.

The SBS map and data display categories of unburned/low, moderate, and high. Approximately 37% of the total 1,532 acres analyzed are either unburned and/or low soil burn severity, while 62% sustained a moderate soil burn severity, and only about 1% identified as high soil burn severity. All 1,532 acres that were burned in the Apache Fire were National Forest System lands.

The BAER assessment team used initial remote sensing imagery with their field validated soils data, to develop and produce a map showing soil burn severity levels for the burned areas The SBS is broken into four different classes: unburned (green), low severity (blue), moderate severity (yellow), and high severity (red). For more information on what these different SBS classifications mean, see BAER Information Brief at: Calpf Lake And Apache Postfire Baer - | InciWeb (wildfire.gov).

The BAER team relied on their refined soil burn severity map to produce data which they are using in their subsequent modeling and determination of post fire runoff and sedimentation. The BAER teams and the US Geological Survey (USGS) both utilized the soil burn severity map as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire flows and debris flow probability. In specific areas that experienced moderate to high burn severity, there could be increased runoff from steep hillslopes and resultant increases in post-fire soil erosion and potential debris flows.

The Apache post-fire soil burn severity (SBS) map can be downloaded at the Lake and Apache BAER InciWeb site: Calpf Lake And Apache Postfire Baer Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

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/lox/.

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