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INCIWEB UPDATE

SOUTH FORK AND SALT BAER ASSESSMENTS

JULY 5, 2024

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team leaders and specialists from the Department of the Interior (DOI) held a close-out briefing today with the Mescalero Apache Tribe to review and validate its preliminary final draft BAER Plan for submission as a funding request to the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters. The purpose of the close-out is to inform the local Tribe and land managers of proposed treatments and solicit feedback on information that may have been overlooked. 

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) BAER specialists are holding a similar close-out briefing with the Lincoln National Forest tomorrow, to review the draft plan before finalization for submission as a funding request to the USFS Southwest Regional Office.

The USFS BAER Specialists are prepping their treatment recommendations and creating BAER treatment maps, specifications, and cost estimates for their report.

Both USFS and DOI BAER reports are expected to be substantially completed by Saturday. Two final BAER plans will be submitted as separate funding requests to the headquarters for the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The leadership of each agency has discretion to determine which treatments will be funded and implemented. 

Additional information on understanding the BAER program, process and other post-fire information is posted on the South Fork and Salt BAER InciWeb page found at: Nmmea South Fork And Salt Fires Burned Area Emergency Response Information | 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/abq/.

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