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Today, the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and USDA Forest Service (USFS) began their collaborative assessment for the South Fork and Salt Fires by hosting a joint initial briefing for the Mescalero-Apache Tribe and USFS managers, along with guests from other organizations involved in post-fire recovery efforts.

BAER Team Leads and agency leadership addressed more than 50 guests representing the Tribe, national and local BIA and USFS leadership, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lincoln County, the New Mexico Division of Forestry, the City of Alamogordo, the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agencies have agreed to work together on the rapid assessment process, to ensure consistent planning for short-term agency recovery actions across the fire areas.

The briefing focused on the BAER assessment process, which includes identifying life, property, and natural or cultural values at risk of post-fire damage. Guests were then asked to provide input for specific critical values at risk and related immediate concerns. After identifying these values, BAER specialists will work together to analyze the levels of risk, probability of damage, and potential for success of actions to mitigate the risks. The BAER reports will prioritize suggested actions with cost estimates for agency consideration and implementation.

BAER hydrology and soils specialists began conducting field assessments on the Salt Fire today, along most of the roads and homes which are potentially at risk of post-fire impacts. In addition, other BAER specialists gathered information from local officials who have begun taking post-fire recovery actions. 

Recent cloud cover has delayed compilation of satellite imagery for a soil burn severity map, essential to the assessment process; BAER specialists are using alternate methods and will continue ground-truthing remotely sensed data to produce a comprehensive and accurate map, even as flash flood warnings are in effect for parts of the burned area.