Fire managers must consider multiple factors when deciding how best to engage a new wildland fire. The safety of the public and of firefighters engaging the incident are always the top priority, as well as protection of values at risk such as property and structures. Fire managers must decide how to safely engage a fire in a way that provides for the highest probability of success without causing undue risk to firefighting resources.

These considerations are being made as fire managers on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Payette National Forest continue to coordinate response to the Bryan Mountain fire, located approximately six miles southwest of Pollock between the main and west forks of the Rapid River. The fire was detected October 1 and has grown to approximately 300 acres after several days of dry, warm weather. The fire is currently active to the east, west, and south, with growth today anticipated primarily to the east and the south. The fire is burning in steep, rocky country with heavy dead and downed fuels. Debris rolling downhill from the main fire area is contributing to fire spread.

The Bryan Mountain fire originated in steep, rugged terrain that was deemed unsafe for firefighters to actively engage the fire to suppress it through initial attack. Instead, fire managers opted for a confine and contain strategy. Fire managers have identified locations where firefighters can safely engage the fire, and resources are preparing to engage in point protection of bridges and other values at risk in the area as the fire increases in size.

Resource availability and seasonality are also factors fire managers must consider, especially late in the fire season. Many local firefighting resources are currently assigned to large–scale wildfires continuing to burn elsewhere in the region and across the American west. Resources are re–assigned as needed to address the highest priority fires. Prioritization of resources becomes especially critical late in the season as seasonal employees end their terms. As temperatures drop and fire conditions lessen, fire managers consider the impact that weather may have on an incident. Rain is forecasted for the region this coming weekend, which may lessen activity on the Bryan Mountain fire.

There are no closures in place due to the Bryan Mountain fire at this time. Smoke from the fire will continue to be visible from Riggins and other nearby communities, including the McCall and Donnelly areas to the south. Smoke forecasts and current air quality information is available online at https://www.airnow.gov/.

The Bryan Mountain fire, approximately six miles southwest of Pollock, showed moderate activity today and has grown to approximately 50 acres. Observations from the Heaven's Gate Lookout and aerial reconnaissance concluded that most of the fire activity remains up-slope, but winds coming from the west did spread the fire downhill today, where most of the fire growth was observed.
 The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Payette National Forest continue to work together in responding to this incident. More information will be issued tomorrow in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Fire Update news release.

The Bryan Mountain fire, located six miles southwest of Pollock, Idaho, continues to burn between the West Fork and the main Rapid River.  On Saturday, Oct. 3, the fire is estimated to be approximately 20 acres with no growth.  While the fire is visible from the Rapid River Canyon, officials report that no values at risk are threatened by the Bryan Mountain fire, and do not anticipate any closures or area restrictions in the near term.

 

Forest Service officials said that because of its location in a remote area in rough terrain, their priority is firefighter safety if attempts are made to send firefighters in where it is currently burning.  The continued strategy is to confine and contain the fire, and to gather more information regarding long-term fire projection and fire behavior to adapt strategies that respond best to the incident. Smoke from the Bryan Mountain fire may be visible from Riggins and other nearby communities including the McCall and Donnelly areas to the south. Those recreating in the Seven Devils may also be able to see smoke produced by the Bryan Mountain fire.

The Bryan Mountain fire is located on the boundary between the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and the Payette National Forest. Wildfire knows no boundaries, and similarly, fire managers from different jurisdictions and different agencies work together across boundaries when responding to incidents. The Nez Perce-Clearwater and the Payette National Forests are coordinating closely on the Bryan Mountain fire and will continue to do so as the fire progresses. 

A new wildfire six miles southwest of Pollock, called the Bryan Mountain fire, was detected the afternoon of October 1 and is burning between the West Fork and the main Rapid River. Currently, the fire is estimated at approximately seven acres. Forest Service officials expect some growth to the north and south with the forecasted warm and dry weather, but do not anticipate any closures or area restrictions in the near term. While the fire is visible from the Rapid River Canyon, officials report that no values at risk are threatened by the Bryan Mountain fire at this time.

 

"This fire is in a very remote area in rough terrain, and we're concerned for firefighter safety should we attempt to send firefighters in where it is currently burning," said Deputy Forest Fire Staff Officer Barry Ruklic. "Our strategy is to confine and contain the fire, and we are gathering more information regarding long-term fire projection and fire behavior so we can continue to adapt our strategies to best respond to this incident."

 

Smoke from the Bryan Mountain fire may be visible from Riggins and other nearby communities including the McCall and Donnelly areas to the south. Those recreating in the Seven Devils may also be able to see smoke produced by the Bryan Mountain fire.

 

The Bryan Mountain fire is located on the boundary between the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and the Payette National Forest. Wildfire knows no boundaries, and similarly, fire managers from different jurisdictions and different agencies work together across boundaries when responding to incidents. The Nez Perce-Clearwater and the Payette National Forests are coordinating closely on the Bryan Mountain fire and will continue to do so as the fire progresses.

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams have completed their emergency assessments of the fires impacting USFS lands in Western Oregon. One of the main objectives of their assessments is to identify critical values at risk of additional damage due to recent wildfires. Once they identify those values, they outline the risks and suggest mitigation actions (treatments) to minimize future risk

 

BAER teams created executive summaries that provide a glimpse into the scientific analysis and results of their assessments. The linked summaries (below) contain a simplified summarization of the work performed by the BAER teams. Please note that treatments identified in these summary documents reflect proposed, but not yet authorized, activities.

 

Forest Service officials are working closely with local and state agencies on immediate and longer-term recovery needs. Suppression repair and other mitigation work has been occurring in many areas and BAER recommended actions will begin as soon as practical.

The old Highway 138 was a rough old road and it took a toll on the vehicles of the 1930s and 1940s. On October 5th, archaeologists Chris Kelly and Amber Nelson discovered the final resting place for some of those cars.  According to Nelson, one of the two archaeologists to discover this site, "We now have [Highway] 138, that runs through the Umpqua up to Diamond Lake. But previously, the old [Highway] 138 would come up on the hills where some of these trails are now at...these old cars, it seems that they broke down out there, and someone just tied a winch to them and pulled them off the road. It's sort of a "car graveyard" out there, if you will."

Before the bridges were built, locals would have to take a ferry, like the one pictured above, to make their way across the North Umpqua River.  

A long evolution, very likely originating from a Native American trail, led to the development of the old Highway 138. It was used as a packer’s trail, and then a cattle trail from Illahee Flat up into Roseburg. Steamboat Creek was a well-loved spot so there was a trail to Steamboat for a long time. Eventually, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came along, camped at Steamboat Creek, and began building the road into what the old highway looks like today.  Perched high above the river, the road was narrow and winding, muddy and slick, with no guard rails and few turnouts for oncoming traffic.  The cars found all date to around the same age – the 1930s to 1940s – and demonstrate how much people enjoyed being on the North Umpqua River, despite some of the hazards it represented to automobiles of the time.

 

These remnants today remind us of what was once a bustling historic route.
 
 

When you or I visit any forest after a wildfire, we are clued in to what we see, which can look pretty dramatic from what we’re accustomed to. Oregon has an average of 347 trees per forested acre, which provides the lush, green view we love. After significant wildfires like we’ve seen on the east side of the Willamette Valley this year, that lush, green view has been replaced by brown trees with scorched trunks and needles, or entire hillslopes that are now blackened sticks.

So why do the Forest Service’s severity maps show so little high severity? Most of the fires in Western Oregon only report between 2 and 12% high severity. That’s clearly not what we see when we drive through or what we see in the news – what’s going on?

There are a few things to consider. Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams come in and the first thing they do is map the soil burn severity. Over the years, scientists have learned that what happened to the soil – not the above ground vegetation – is a critical indicator of recovery. From the soil burn severity map, geologists can predict debris flow hazards, hydrologists can predict changes to stream flows, and soil scientists can predict erosion potential.

Clearly, above ground vegetation does matter, and can aid in the recovery of a burned forest. For example, in areas where the trees were scorched and killed, those conifer trees will drop their needles, which provides very helpful natural ground cover. Since post-fire soil erosion is a major concern of soil scientists, this natural ground cover plays a crucial role in slowing the interaction between rain drops and soil particles that would otherwise get washed down the hillslope.

The Forest Service also creates a vegetation mortality map that focuses on the wildfire effects to the forests and is reported in percent of basal area loss. Basal area is the average amount of an area (such as an acre) occupied by tree stems This product helps other scientists, such as wildlife biologists, botanists, and silviculturists understand what to expect from this changed landscape for wildlife habitat, invasive weeds, and timber production.

So, what you’re seeing with your eyes is correct – lots of trees and other vegetation did die in these wildfires. But nature is resilient, and we’ve already seen evidence of many plant species sprouting up amongst the newly blackened and open canopy forest.
 
See the attached PDFs below for the maps and graphics. 

Do you have a well as the water source on your property? Was your property affected by the recent wildfires? Your well may have sustained some damage that may require a professional inspection to ensure it's working properly. The Oregon Water Resources Department created this flyer linked at the bottom of this page that addresses the following potential issues your well may be experiencing:

• Electrical Hazards

• Dug Wells: Falling and Drowning Hazards

• Drilled Wells and Water System Damage

• Water Treatment Damage

• Contaminants and Water Testing

• Abandoning Wells

• Post-fire Well Damage

• Drilling a New Well

In addition, the Oregon Water Resources Department provide links to more information, including a list of licensed well constructors and contractors. Visit Oregon Water Resources Department website at www.oregon.gov/owrd.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to help private forest landowners recover from wildfire impacts on private forest lands affected by the recent wildfires in Douglas and Josephine Counties.
Eligible land does include forest, crop, pasture, and associated agricultural land.

Available conservation practices include:
• Conservation Cover - native grass seeding
• Cover Crop - cropland, pasture
• Woody Residue Treatment - contour falling, slash removal, piling, chipping, etc.
• Mulching - straw, wattles, hydro mulch for erosion control
 
Learn more about NRCS Oregon’s fire assistance sign-up in the west at: https://go.usa.gov/xGGgT.

Contact NRCS Douglas & Josephine County
Roseburg Office
 
David Ferguson 541-378-3536
david.ferguson@usda.gov
 
Zach Dimare 541-378-3539
zach.dimare@usda.gov  
 
Assistance may also be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, and improved or created wildlife habitat. Contact your local field office to learn more.

We tend to think of wildfire burn severity in terms of the visual impacts to above-ground vegetation, but the post-fire landscape response (erosion, flooding, and mass movement) is generally more strongly correlated to soil burn severity. When characterizing soil burn severity, looking at the vegetation is a good starting place to understand the conditions on the ground. Armed with that information, the BAER team’s watershed specialists (soil scientists, hydrologists, and geologists) ground-truth different vegetation burn intensities to tease out patterns of how fire affected and changed the properties of the soil.  Pre-fire ground cover, forest type, fire behavior, slope, aspect, and other factors all influence soil burn severity.  After field observations are collected, specialists adjust the vegetation severity map to create the soil burn severity (SBS) map.  The SBS is broken into four different classes: unburned (green), low severity (blue), moderate severity (yellow), and high severity (red).

So what do these different classifications mean?

LOW severity areas generally have intact and recognizable litter layers (organic material on the forest floor, such as pine needles and twigs).  These litter layers may be charred, but are not consumed.  Underlying topsoil is intact and near-surface fine roots are unburned.  These soils have enough cover to protect them from erosion during rain events because their natural porosity and structure allow rain to soak into the soil instead of running off, while fine roots provide stability.  In low severity areas, burns may have been patchy—islands of green vegetation and intact canopies may be present. 

MODERATE severity areas generally have more—up to 80% of their pre-fire surface litter layers consumed by fire.  Black or gray ash may be present on the soil surface. Fine roots near the surface may be scorched and killed.  Topsoil layers are generally intact with minimal impacts to the soil’s ability to absorb moisture. Soils with moderate severity are more susceptible to erosion in post-fire rain events because they have lost protective surface cover and may have less surface stability because of root mortality.

HIGH severity areas generally have had all their pre-fire surface litter layers consumed by fire.  White or gray ash may be present on the soil surface. Fine roots are often fully burned/consumed within several inches of the soil surface, and even large tree roots may have burned deep into the soil.  Soil may be powdery or grainy and loose, unable to bind together and retain water. These soils are very susceptible to erosion and often have high surface run-off during rainstorms.

So, what does the BAER team do with the SBS map?

The BAER team uses the SBS map to make predictions about how the landscape will respond after fires. Soil scientists consider where soil productivity will be degraded due to erosion losses and where sediment may move into stream channels. Hydrologists use the SBS to predict watershed response—surface runoff from high SBS areas in rainstorms can produce more “flashy” behavior in stream systems.  Geologists use the SBS to inform predictions for debris flow or other mass movement potential based on reduced soil stability in steep drainages.  BAER teams focus on emergency responses to stabilize burned areas that may impact Forest Service critical infrastructure or other values located within or immediately downstream of high soil burn severity areas.