Point Fire Update

INCIDENT FACTS

Incident Start Date: 10/26/2020

Location:  16 miles east of Forest Hill  

Incident Type: Wildfire

 Cause: Under investigation

Agency: US Forest Service

Size: 93 Acres

Containment: 80%

Expected Full Containment:

Engines:  4    Crews:  1    Water Tenders:  2   Helicopters:  0   Dozers: 1 Total Personnel: 51

Fire size estimate: The Point Fire is 93 Acres and 80% contained. The fire transitioned from a type 3 incident management team to a type 4 organization on Saturday October 31,2020. Fire Personnel continue to strengthen containment lines including mop up in areas of secured lines. As a reminder it is asked that you refrain from being in the fire area and road surrounding the fire like the Nevada ridge road aka 14n10 rd., for the next two weeks as the fire personnel continue their operational fire work.  This will reduce safety risks for the fire fighters their equipment and the public.

Weather Forecast:

DISCUSSION

we will see no major changes in the weather pattern over the next

several days. Low daytime humidity will continue with poor to moderate

overnight recoveries. Locally breezy winds up to 16 mph can be expected

at night with lighter winds during the day.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK

Similar weather will continue into the middle part of the week with low daytime

humidity and poor to moderate overnight humidity recoveries. Overall, not much

wind except for locally breezy winds overnight. The pattern does shift late

this week with increased onshore winds which will bring improved humidity both

during the day and overnight. There will also be a chance for light showers Friday

into the weekend.

Smoke: There are no smoke concerns currently.

Forest Closure:  There are no forest closures in effect for the fire area.

Background: The Point Fire began On October 26 at 6:00 AM off Nevada Point Rd and Long Creek Rd, north of Ellicott Bridge in the Georgetown RD of the Eldorado National Forest. Eldorado NF and Cal Fire resources responded to the incident. The fire remained a concern during the recent Red Flag wind events with no significant growth.

BAER Soil Burn Severity Map Released for Red Salmon Complex

YREKA, Calif. – Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their initial data gathering and verification field work of the Red Salmon Complex burn areas. The Soil Burn Severity map, which indicates soil burn severity levels of unburned/very low, low, moderate and high, has been finalized.

The map shows that in the Red Salmon Complex fire area, approximately 70% of the 144,747 acres analyzed by the BAER team is either unburned/very low (37%) or low (33%) soil burn severity, while 26% sustained a moderate soil burn severity, and only 4% burned at high soil burn severity.

BAER post-fire assessment teams use soil burn severity data to identify if there are areas of concern where increased soil erosion, accelerated surface water run-off, and debris flows have the potential to impact human life/safety, property, and critical natural and cultural resources from storm events.

The BAER team consists of Forest Service scientists and specialists that are considering emergency stabilization options where potential post-fire threats create an unacceptable risk for those critical resources on National Forest System lands. BAER teams share their analysis and findings with interagency cooperators who work with private land and business owners to help them prepare for upcoming rain events.

BAER Team Leader Trevi Robertson said that the team expects erosion and run-off within the Red Salmon Complex fire area to minimally increase as a result of the fire, because only 30% of the burned area experienced moderate or high soil burn severity. In specific areas that experienced moderate to high soil burn severity, there is concern for increased post-fire run-off from steep hillslopes resulting in increases of post-fire soil erosion and debris flows.

The Red Salmon Complex soil burn severity BAER map can be downloaded at the “Red Salmon Post-Fire BAER” InciWeb site (inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7253) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “maps” tab. Additional Red Salmon Post-Fire BAER assessment information is available at this same website.

A Field Guide for Mapping Post-Fire Soil Burn Severity can help with interpreting the map and can be found online at www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr243.pdf.

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 over the burn areas. 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 websites: www.weather.gov/sto/, and www.weather.gov/eka/.

FIREWEED FOUND SPROUTING IN RED SALMON COMPLEX BURN AREA

Posted under the Photos Tab of the Red Salmon Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page (and below), is a photo showing a bee pollinating a fireweed plant that BAER specialists recently found growing within a moderate-to-high soil burn severity area while assessing the Red Salmon Complex.

Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is not a weed, it’s a native perennial. The name fireweed stems from its ability to rapidly colonize areas burned by fire. It was one of the first plants to appear after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980.

Fireweed was important to native people around the world. Choice patches of fireweed were even owned by high-ranking families in British Columbia. Tea was made from the leaves. High in vitamins A and C, fireweed shoots provided a tasty spring vegetable. Flowers yield copious nectar that yield a rich, spicy honey. Today, fireweed honey, jelly, and syrup are popular in Alaska where this species grows in abundance.
 
 

BAER KEY MESSAGES PREPARING FOR RAIN

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires cause damage that requires special efforts to manage unacceptable risks afterwards.

Summer thunderstorms and other rain events in the mountains can result in high runoff and flash flooding.

Wildfire increases the potential for post fire flooding, soil erosion, and debris flows that could impact campgrounds, fishing areas, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure within, adjacent to, and downstream from the burned areas.

Post-fire, watershed conditions will naturally receive and transport water and sediment differently than during pre-fire conditions.

The public and communities adjacent to and downstream from burned areas should expect increased flooding and debris transport during smaller rain events than would normally cause this.

The potential for increased runoff and debris flows are not just a one-year concern.

We need to recognize the threat potential of flash floods and debris flows may exist for the next 3-5 monsoon and winter seasons, depending on the intensity of these storms.

For life and safety concerns, California National Forest closures may need to be implemented prior to forecast rain events until the burned area fully recovers.

Residents and visitors should remain alert to weather events and plan ahead when travelling along roads downstream from the burned areas of recent wildfires.

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams have been working on California’s National Forests to assess the condition of the watersheds on federal land that burned this summer and fall.

The BAER assessment team identifies potential threats to critical values-at-risk and recommends emergency stabilization response actions that are implemented on federal lands to reduce potential post-fire risks.

BAER critical values that may be considered at-risk on National Forest System (NFS) lands are:

• Human life and safety.

• Property on Forest Service lands such as buildings, water systems and infrastructure, road and trail prisms.

• Natural Resources on Forest Service lands such as water, soil productivity and hydrologic function, areas where invasive species or noxious weeds may impact native or naturalized communities and may include critical habitat or suitable occupied habitat for federally listed threatened or endangered species.

• Cultural and Heritage Resources such as pre-historic and historic properties and sites on Forest Service lands.

For values and resources potentially impacted off NFS lands, one of the most effective BAER strategies is interagency coordination with other responsible agencies, entities, and local cooperators who assist affected businesses, homes, and landowners prepare for rain events. 

While multi-agency efforts are being taken to reduce the risks to life and safety downstream from the burned area, residents in the area should develop individual plans to protect themselves and their property. 

The Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) work together and coordinate with other federal, state and local agencies, and counties that assist private landowners in preparing for increased run-off and potential flooding and debris flows.

NRCS works with local sponsors to prepare damage survey reports for eligible sites on private lands adjacent to and downstream from affected areas.  NRCS uses these reports, along with the BAER team’s assessment report, to develop emergency measures to reduce the impacts from potential increased water and debris flows, and assist sponsors to implement recommended emergency measures (www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1045263.pdf).

Many local county offices of emergency management promote preparedness through emergency services programs to assist the public to prepare for, respond appropriately to, and quickly recover from natural emergencies that may impact county residents and visitors. Please check your local county website for emergency preparedness for potential National Weather Service flood warnings.

Homes or businesses that could be impacted by flooding from federal land that resulted 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.floodsmart.gov/, or www.floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance/why. Other flood preparedness information is available at www.ready.gov/floods.

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 over the burn scars. 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/.

BAER teams begin post-fire assessment of Red Salmon Complex

YREKA, Calif. – A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established to assess the burned area of the Red Salmon Complex. They will be coordinating with the Six Rivers, Klamath, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests as well as the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Weather Service, US Geological Survey, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, Siskiyou County, Humboldt County, Trinity County, and other federal, state and local agencies as they assess potential post-fire impacts to the burned watersheds.

BAER surveys are rapid assessments that evaluate the burned area to identify watersheds having increased potential for post-fire flooding, sediment flows, falling trees, and rockslides. The BAER survey assists land managers in preparing the burned area for rainstorms and wind events. The teams focus on potential emergency impacts to life, and safety on National Forest System (NFS) lands and share the team’s findings with the responsible agencies, adjacent landowners and managers.

BAER teams typically consist of scientists and specialists including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, road engineers, botanists, fisheries biologists, wildlife biologists, recreation specialists, archeologists and geographic information specialists (GIS). During their burned area surveys, BAER teams collect data, analyzing it through GIS and computer models. BAER teams then present their findings along with recommended BAER emergency response actions in a BAER assessment report.

BAER teams utilize satellite imagery and specialist data to analyze and produce a map that shows the levels of soil burn severity on the watersheds. This is the first step in assessing potential watershed impacts from wildfires to any NFS values that may be at-risk from potential increased flooding, sedimentation, debris flows and rockslides. The BAER team assessment report describes threats associated with the burned area’s post-fire conditions along with recommended emergency stabilization measures and actions. BAER emergency response efforts are focused on the protection of human life, safety and property, as well as critical cultural and natural resource values such as the water quality of streams and wetlands on NFS lands.

The BAER team will produce and share soil burn severity and potential debris flow hazard maps for the burned area. BAER reports are shared with interagency cooperators who work with private home and other landowners to prepare for potential post-fire flooding and debris-flow impacts. Homes or businesses that could be impacted by flooding from federal land that resulted 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.floodsmart.gov/.

Red Salmon Post-Fire BAER Assessment information is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7253/.

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 over the burn areas. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to take action! Current weather and emergency notifications can be found on National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gov/sto/, and www.weather.gov/eka/.

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Limitations

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 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 storm 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 human life and safety, Forest Service property and other critical natural and cultural resource values.
• Prescribe emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to life or property 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.

BAER Interagency Coordination:

Post-fire emergency response is a shared responsibility. There are several Federal, State and local agencies that have emergency response responsibilities or authorities in the post-fire environment. The BAER team coordinates with these agencies to look at the full scope and scale of the situation to reduce the potential threats to human life and property. It is important that BAER efforts are communicated with all affected and interested cooperating agencies and organizations regarding other post-fire recovery and restoration efforts.

BAER treatments cannot prevent all of the potential flooding or soil erosion impacts, especially after a wildfire-changed landscape. It is important for the public to stay informed and prepared for potentially dramatic increased run-off events.

One of the most effective BAER strategies is interagency coordination to provide post-fire threat information to local cooperators who can assist affected businesses, homes, and landowners to prepare for rain events. For example, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program for post-emergency assistance on private and tribal land, the National Weather Service (NWS) has responsibility for flood warning alerts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has flood insurance and other responsibilities if the area is a Presidentially-declared emergency, Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) and counties, as well as State and local-highway and emergency services departments, Flood Control authorities, etc. It is important that landowners work directly with NRCS and other agencies to determine appropriate actions needed to protect private structures and other assets.

BAER Process:

BAER assessment teams are staffed by specially trained professionals that may include: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, botanists, archeologists, and others who evaluate the burned area and prescribe temporary emergency stabilization actions on National Forest System lands to protect the land quickly and effectively. BAER assessments usually begin before a wildfire has been fully contained.

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.

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. Response action timing is essential to ensure the emergency stabilization measures are effective.

There are a variety of emergency stabilization actions that the BAER team can recommend for Forest Service land such as mulching with agricultural straw or chipped wood to protect soil productivity, increasing road drainage to keep roads and bridges from washing-out during post-fire floods, and early detection rapid response invasive plant treatments to prevent spread of weeds into native plant communities. BAER treatments are preventative in nature but cannot prevent all damage, especially debris torrents in areas that are prone to sliding and have lost critical root structure from plants.

The Cans and Cannots of BAER:

What BAER Can Do:

• Install water or erosion control devices
• Seed or mulch for erosion control or stability reasons
• Install erosion control measures at critical cultural sites
• Install temporary barriers to protect treated or recovering areas
• Install warning signs
• Replace minor safety related facilities, like burned guard rails
• Install appropriate-sized drainage features on roads, trails
• Remove critical safety hazards
• Prevent permanent loss of T&E habitat
• Monitor BAER treatments
• Implement EDRR treatments to minimize the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities

What BAER Cannot Do:

• Prevent all flooding and debris flows
• Replant commercial forests or grass for forage
• Excavate and interpret cultural sites
• Replace burned pasture fences
• Install interpretive signs
• Replace burned buildings, bridges, corrals, etc.
• Repair roads damaged by floods after fire
• Remove all hazard trees
• Replace burned habitat
• Monitor fire effects
• Treat pre-existing noxious weeds

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 within7 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 forwarded onto the Washington Office.

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn areas. 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/sto/ and www.weather.gov/eka/.   

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.

  
  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 over the burn areas. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to take action! Current weather and emergency notifications can be found on National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gov/sto/, and www.weather.gov/eka/.

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.

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 over the burn areas. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to take action! Current weather and emergency notifications can be found on National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gov/sto/, and www.weather.gov/eka/.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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 over the burn areas. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to take action! Current weather and emergency notifications can be found on National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gov/sto/, and www.weather.gov/eka/.

ORDER NUMBER SJ-2020-10

FOREST ORDER
USDA FOREST SERVICE
SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST
Columbine Ranger District

Fire Area Closure

Pursuant to 16 United States Code (U.S.C.) 551 and 36 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands on the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, San Juan County, State of Colorado as of October 28, 2020. The closure pursuant to this Order (the “Restricted Area”) as depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A.

This Order is necessary to protect public health and safety resulting from fire impacts associated with the Ice wildfire. The order will protect public health and safety as there are numerous fire weakened trees along the Ice Lakes Trail, to the lower basin, and three quarters of the entire Clear Lake road. It is expected that trees, rocks and boulders will continue to fall along the Ice Lake trail and Clear Lake road well into the winter. The Forest Service intents to let the natural processes take place throughout the winter. In the spring the Forest Service will send crews into mitigate hazard and or fallen trees along the Ice Lake trail and Clear Lake road.

PROHIBITIONS:
1) Going in or being upon NFS land below the Ice Lakes and Clear Lake headwaters and all NFS lands bounded on the west by the eastern side of Lower Ice Lakes Basin and a ridge forming the south east side of the basin to the Clear Creek. On the north from the top switch back of the Clear Lake road (NFSR 815) south to the South Mineral road (NFSR 585). On the east from the locked gate just past the Goldenhorn Campground to where the South Mineral road crosses over Clear Creek, and running due north from the locked gate to an unnamed peak directly east of the top switch back of the Clear Lake road 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e) T41 N R8 W Sections: 7-9, 16-18 2) Being upon any portion of the Ice Lakes trail (NFST 505) from the trailhead to timberline in the Lower Ice Lake Basin. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e) 3) Being on the Clear Lake road (NFSR 815) between the beginning, mile post 0.0 and the top switch back, MP 3.77. 4) Being on the South Mineral Road (NFSR 585) between the locked gate near the Goldenhorn campground MP 2.47 and where South Mineral road crosses Clear Creek MP 4.51. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)

EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: 1) Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. 2) Any Federal, State or local law enforcement officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force engaged in the performance of an official duty.

This Order shall remain in effect until July 1, 2021, or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

Done at Durango, Colorado, this 28th day of October 2020.

/s/ Kara Chadwick
Forest Supervisor

Violations of these regulations are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. § 3571