KEY ELEMENTS OF A BAER ASSESSMENT 

Forest Service BAER assessment teams are established by Forest Supervisors before wildfires are fully contained. The teams coordinate and work with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), National Weather Service (NWS), local counties, State Department of Transportation, and other federal, state, and local agencies to strategically assess potential post-fire impacts to the watersheds burned from wildland fires.

The BAER assessment teams are evaluating watershed conditions to determine the level of potential risks to human life, safety, property, critical natural and cultural-heritage resources, and determine if there are appropriate and effective emergency stabilization measures that can be implemented on federal lands in a timely manner to reduce unacceptable risks from potential flooding and debris flow threats.

The BAER assessment team conducts field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area.

BAER assessment teams are staffed by specially trained professionals that may include: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, geologists, biologists, botanists, archeologists, geographic information system mapping specialists, recreation and trails specialists, and others who evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency response actions to protect the land quickly and effectively.

BAER assessments usually begin before a wildfire has been fully contained.

The BAER assessment team generates a “Soil Burn Severity” map by using satellite imagery which is then validated and adjusted by BAER team field surveys to assess watershed conditions and watershed response to the wildfire. The map identifies areas of soil burn severity by categories of low/unburned, moderate, and high which corresponds to a projected increase in watershed response.

The BAER team presents these findings and treatment recommendations to the Forest Supervisor in an assessment report that identifies immediate and emergency stabilization actions needed to address potential post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural-heritage and critical natural resources on National Forest System lands.

The BAER report describes watershed pre- and post-fire response information, areas of concern for human life, safety and property, and recommended short-term emergency stabilization actions for federal lands that burned.

In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated.

If the BAER assessment team determines there may be potential emergency situations, the short-term goal is to have flood and erosion control protection measures completed before the first large, damaging rain events occur.

Timely implementation is critical if BAER emergency response actions are to be effective.

The BAER assessment team coordinates with other federal and local agencies, and counties that assist private landowners in preparing for increased run-off and potential flooding.

Federal assistance to private landowners regarding post-fire potential impacts is the primary responsibility of the NRCS through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program (www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/)

NRCS in coordination with additional state, local and federal agencies conduct damage survey reports for the private land adjacent to and downstream from the burned areas. NRCS uses these reports, along with the BAER team’s assessment report, to develop recommended emergency measures for businesses and private home and landowners to reduce the impacts to their property from potential increased water and debris flows.

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/.

FOREST SERVICE BAER PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. BAER is an emergency program for stabilization work that involves time-critical activities to be completed before the first damaging event to meet program objectives:

BAER Objectives:

-   Determine whether imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands exist and take immediate actions, as appropriate, to manage the unacceptable risks.

-   If emergency conditions are identified, mitigate significant threats to health, safety, human life, property and critical cultural and natural resources.

-   Prescribe emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to critical values resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources.

-   Implement emergency response actions to help stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement and potentially reduce threats to the BAER critical values identified above when an analysis shows that planned actions are likely to reduce risks substantially within the first year following containment of the fire.

-   Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of emergency treatments that were applied on National Forest System lands.

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires result in damage that requires special efforts to reduce impacts afterwards. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; water run-off may increase and cause flooding, soil and rock may move downstream and damage property or fill reservoirs putting community water supplies and endangered species at-risk.

The BAER team presents these findings in an assessment report that identifies immediate and emergency actions needed to address post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural and critical natural resources. This includes early detection and rapid response (EDRR) treatments to prevent the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities. The BAER report describes watershed pre- and post-fire watershed response information, areas of concern for life and property, and recommended short-term emergency stabilization measures for Forest Service lands that burned.

In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated. Severely burned areas steep slopes, and places where water run-off will be excessive and may impact important resources, are focus areas and described in the BAER assessment report if they affect critical values. Time is critical if the emergency stabilization measures are to be effective.

A BAER assessment team conducts field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization measures. The team generates a “Soil Burn Severity” map by using satellite imagery which is then validated and adjusted by BAER team field surveys to assess watershed conditions and model potential watershed response from the wildfire. The map identifies areas of soil burn severity by categories of very low/unburned, low, moderate, and high which may correspond to a projected increase in watershed response. The higher the burn severity, the less the soil will be able to absorb water when it rains. Without absorption, there will be increased run-off with the potential of flooding.

BAER Funding:

Special Emergency Wildfire Suppression funds are authorized for BAER activities and the amount of these expenses varies with the severity of the fire season. Some years see little BAER activity while other years are extremely busy.

Because of the emergency nature of BAER, initial requests for funding of proposed BAER treatments are supposed to be submitted by the Forest Supervisor to the Regional Office within 7 days of total containment of the fire. The Regional Forester’s approval authority for individual BAER projects is limited. Approval for BAER projects exceeding this limit is to the Washington Office.

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/.

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)

THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY

There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands:

-       Fire Suppression Repair

-       Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)

-       Long-Term Recovery and Restoration

o   Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts.

o   Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the first post-fire damaging events. Fires result in loss of vegetation, exposure of soil to erosion, and increased water runoff that may lead to flooding, increased sediment, debris flows, and damage to critical natural and cultural resources. BAER actions such as: mulching, seeding, installation of erosion and water run-off control structures, temporary barriers to protect recovering areas, and installation of warning signs may be implemented. BAER work may also replace safety related facilities; remove safety hazards; prevent permanent loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species; prevent the spread of noxious weeds, and protect critical cultural resources.

o   Long-Term Recovery and Restoration utilizes non-emergency actions to improve fire-damaged lands that are unlikely to recover naturally and to repair or replace facilities damaged by the fire that are not critical to life and safety. This phase may include restoring burned habitat, reforestation, other planting or seeding, monitoring fire effects, replacing burned fences, interpreting cultural sites, treating noxious weed infestations, and installing interpretive signs.

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 take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/abq/.

    Horseshoe Fire
April 22, 2022  
 
Size: 553 acres
Containment: 85% 
Cause: Unknown 
 

Today, April 22, 2022, Fire crews returned to staff the fire in the morning. While en route to the fire, an accident occurred involving a Borger Fire Department engine with three fire fighters losing control and rolling over on FM 1061.Potter County Fire/Rescue had responded to the accident extracting the fire fighters. Two of the fire fighters had sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene and are in good condition. The third fire fighter was transported to the hospital by helicopter and is in stable condition. 

TIFMAS strike Team 146 and TAMFS resources continued to monitor the fire. Further into the day smokes within the interior of the fire had appeared with the winds that came in.  A storm cell moved in over the fire later in the evening, strong winds and hail were observed over the fire.  

For tomorrow, April 23, fire crews will return in the morning to monitor in anticipation of high winds, in order to make sure no flare ups will occur. Extremely high winds related to a weather event coming in are anticipated. Refer to local weather channels for updated forecasts. 

    Horseshoe Fire
April 21, 2022  
 
Size: 400 acres
Containment: 70% 
Cause: Unknown
 
Yesterday, April 20, 2022, crews worked into the night on establishing holding lines with heavy equipment and burn out operations. Significant fire activity was observed within areas with a lot of topography and heavy fuels, but fire crews had made good progress. 

Today, April 21, 2022, Fire crews had returned to staff the fire in the morning and worked on patrolling and mop up. Aviation was utilized to help monitor. Many hot spots were located within the river drainages, firefighters worked on mitigating them. Crews will return in the morning to patrol and monitor the fire, in preparation of the extreme wind event forecasted for tomorrow. Please refer to local weather forecasts for updates on wind events. 

   Horseshoe Fire
April 20, 2022  
 
Size: Estimated 200 acres
Containment: 20% 
Cause: Unknown
 
 Texas A&M Forest Service is currently working in unified command with Potter County Fire Department. The fire is pushing west in rough canyon topography. Heavy equipment has been engaged on both flanks of the fire along with engines and aviation. Currently there are structures threatened and evacuations have been made for Horseshoe, Buena Vista and Plum Thicket within Valley De Oro. Fire Departments on scene include Potter County Fire/Rescue, Randall County Fire Department, Boys Ranch Volunteer Fire Department and Texas A&M Forest Service.

 

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS – A wildfire on the remote South Rim of the Chisos Mountains that started on Wednesday, April 20th was officially declared contained at 30 acres on Thursday afternoon.

Aided by cool morning temperatures and higher humidity, a crew of 10 Los Diablos firefighters and park rangers were able to conduct an early morning direct attack on the north flank before the fire had a chance to flare up in the heat of the day. The fire spread was restricted by the cliffs of the south rim to the south and west, and the fire scar from the 2021 fire to the east.

Containment means that the fire’s spread has been stopped, but there is still much work to be done. The crew will remain at the fire for a couple of days to mop up the perimeter and cool down remaining hot spots. The park mule team will head into the remote area again today to provide support with water and supplies.

The fire will only be declared out when no more burning, smoke, or hot spots remain. For safety and to provide the fire personnel room to work, the backpacking campsites South Rim 2, 3, and 4 and the trail segment between Laguna Meadows and the South Rim will remain closed through Saturday night. The cause of the fire is under investigation and unknown at this time.

Continued drought, high temperatures and low humidity mean extreme fire conditions continue throughout the West. Park visitors are reminded to be extremely careful. Fires are prohibited in Big Bend National Park and smoking is prohibited on all park trails.

 BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX-At approximately 11:00am on Wednesday April 20th, Big Bend National Park received reports of smoke near the southern edge of the Southwest Rim of the Chisos Mountains. A small crew of rangers quickly began to hike into the remote area, while the park pilot provided reconnaissance from above to scout the location and extent of the fire. Initial reports indicated that the fire was ½ acre in size and backing to the southwest through sparse pinyon-juniper and grass. By late afternoon the fire was estimated at 1.5 acres in size. The fire location is west of the South Rim trail near South Rim 4 campsite that burned one year ago. The cause of the fire is unknown at this point.
  The South Rim is a rugged and remote location, only accessible via a 3-4 hour hike up steep trails. Early Wednesday evening, a crew of firefighters, including ten Diablos from Boquillas, Mexico reached the fire area and began work to contain the fire overnight.

Fire activity calmed down Wednesday evening and winds are favorable today. Park managers are optimistic. With the geographic features of the cliffs to the west and south and the burned area last year, Fire Management Officer D.W. Ivans states, “this should isolate the burn to west side of the trail to the rim.” There is not a significant amount of heavy fuel in this area, because of last year’s fire.

A type 6 engine from Big Thicket National Preserve will arrive today, and the park's mule team will also head into the Chisos Mountains, carrying heavy loads of much needed water and equipment for the hardworking firefighters. Backpacking campsites at SR2, 3, and 4 and the section of trail from Laguna Meadows to the South Rim will be closed today to allow park teams to focus on the wildfire.

The National Park Service will continue to post regular updates through Big Bend's social media channels. Fire updates can also be found on Inciweb. 

     

Additional crews arrive to bolster suppression repair efforts

July 18, 2022 – Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire Update

 Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 656| Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022 | Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Holdover fire from prescribed pile burn | Location: 12 miles NW of Las Vegas, NM | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

 
Highlights: Firefighters are taking great pride in helping the private landowners with their suppression repair needs. As additional requests are received, crews continue to respond wherever needs are identified. Over the weekend, 8 crews, 3 Type 6 engines, and heavy equipment arrived to support and strengthen fire suppression repair efforts. 

Operations: Weekend rains temporarily delayed suppression efforts, but crews persevered and continued to complete work in areas where the weather was more favorable. Crews are removing cut logs in the Gallinas drainage to help prevent debris from moving downstream. Task Force Leaders specifically assigned to lead crews in suppression repair are scouting for dozer lines and fence work around the fire area. Firefighters completed dozer line repairs west of El Barros Peaks, along with hand and dozer lines surrounding Barillas Lookout Tower. Near Barillas Peak, crews are working with an excavator to repair fire lines on Forest Road 220. Resource Advisors are assessing the fire suppression repairs along Hamilton Mesa Trail to determine if the repairs meet wilderness standards and if additional work needs to be completed. Crews are using three dozers in the Grassy Mountain area to repair dozer lines while also using a skidder to move logs. Crews are working on Forest Road B032 south of Martinez Pond, which is anticipated to take 6 to 8 days to complete. Firefighters also scouted the area around Lonesome Dove Ranch to assess their suppression repair needs. In Chacon, crews are using bulldozers to remove berms, excavators to construct water bars to prevent erosion, skidders to remove logs, and chippers to cut and scatter branches and limbs into small wood pieces.

Closures and Restrictions: Area closures remain in effect for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. These closures are in place for ongoing wildfire suppression repair operations, and to protect public health and safety in the event of debris flow and flash flooding. The wildfire suppression repair operations include, but are not limited to, hazard tree felling, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use, and fire line repair efforts. For the latest information about the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires closure orders for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, please see the links to each forest’s website below. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.

Weather: Conditions will be mostly sunny this morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon with scattered showers and thunderstorms. The main hazards associated with any storm include lightning, locally heavy rainfall, and the potential for flooding. Temperatures today will be warm in the valleys with highs mainly in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Most of the higher elevations will see highs in the 70s. Scattered to numerous showers and storms are expected through the week with the highest chances on Wednesday and Thursday.

Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: Disaster assistance resources: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/| After Wildfire New Mexico Guide: https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/| Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/

For questions or concerns related to flooding, please call the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center at 1-800-432-2080. For federal disaster assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (English and Spanish): https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636| Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov

Online Fire Information Resources: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/| nmfireinfo.com |Santa Fe National Forest Twitter | tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forestitter | tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 16, 2022

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

Las Vegas/Mora - The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning  for the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon burn scar for Mora County and San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico.

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE SAN MIGUEL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION