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FOREST SERVICE BAER TEAM BEGINS WAPITI FIRE POST-FIRE ASSESSMENT

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team was recently established by the Sawtooth, Boise, and Salmon-Challis National Forests to begin its emergency survey of the burned area in the Wapiti Fire. BAER team surveys are rapid assessments that evaluate the burned watersheds and determine the potential for increased post-fire flooding, sediment flows, and rockslides.

BAER teams coordinate with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Weather Service (NWS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and other federal, state, counties, and local agencies as they assess potential post-fire impacts to the burned watersheds. Emergency stabilization BAER surveys are rapid assessments to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands. The BAER team evaluates the burned area to identify watersheds with an increased potential for post-fire flooding, sediment delivery, and rockslides, and assists land managers in preparing for seasonal thunder cell storms or winter rainstorms. They also model hydrologic response throughout the burned area and share the team’s findings with the affected downstream agencies.

BAER teams may consist of scientists and specialists including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, road engineers, botanists, biologists, archeologists, and geographic information specialists. BAER teams collect field data during their burned area surveys to analyze through GIS and computer models and present their findings along with recommended BAER emergency stabilization treatments in a BAER assessment report. BAER reports are also shared with interagency cooperators who work with downstream private home and landowners to prepare for potential post-fire flooding and sediment flow impacts.

The Wapiti Fire BAER assessment team anticipates that it will take approximately two weeks to complete their burn area assessment report that will be reviewed by the Forest Supervisors and approved by the Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region.

The Forest Service will use this site to disseminate information pertaining to the BAER process for the Wapiti Fire. Shawn Robnett (shawn.robnett@usda.gov) is the BAER team lead representing the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Challis National Forests. 

Expected Timeline:

• Team kickoff: September 26
• Final report submitted: October 7

Homes or businesses that could be impacted by flooding from federal land that result from wildfires may be eligible for flood insurance coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Information about NFIP is available through FEMA at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program, or www.floodsmart.gov/wildfires. Other flood preparedness information is available at www.ready.gov/floods and www.floodsmart.gov/.