Post-Fire BAER Assessment 

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) 

Information Brief

Understanding Soil Burn Severity

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. 

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 National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/hnx/.

The Park Fire Evening Update for August 16 is posted on the Park Fire Status Update Page

Coffeepot Fire Public Meeting

Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m.

Three Rivers Memorial Building
43490 Sierra Dr.
Three Rivers, CA 93271

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks staff and California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 will provide detailed information on suppression efforts to date and future plans for the management of the Coffeepot Fire.

Size: 228 Acres
Containment: 0%
Fire Cause: Lightning

Today the Coffeepot Fire grew to 228 acres. This growth is expected, even as full suppression efforts continue. Should fire conditions change in a way that warrants evacuation advisories, please know that we will get that message out immediately. We are working closely with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Services should this need arise in the days or weeks ahead, but this is not foreseen at this time.

Yesterday we mentioned that a Type 3 Incident Team would arrive today, but we now have a larger Complex Incident Management Team arriving tomorrow, August 17. This team will transition with local NPS and partner agencies and will gain management of the fire beginning on Sunday morning, while continuing to work closely with local NPS fire personnel, Cal Fire, Tulare County Fire, BLM, and others.

We wanted to provide some more detailed information about this fire and how we've gotten to this point today. We'll be discussing this all in much more detail during a public meeting scheduled for this Sunday.

Coffeepot Fire Public Meeting

Sunday, August 18 at 6pm

Three Rivers Memorial Building

Suppression Efforts to Date

When the Coffeepot Fire was discovered, a fire crew was inserted and carried out full suppression efforts by establishing a fire line around the fire. This line was monitored by fire personnel and held for several days. When the fire line was breached early on August 11th, two highly-skilled hotshot crews and a third initial attack crew were inserted to contain the fire with heavy aircraft support. Even with great progress each day, they awoke each morning to fire breaching the containment line from logs and trees that were falling and rolling out of these lines due to the steep and rugged terrain. Four days of direct attack was not proving effective, and we are now switching over to a more indirect approach that should be more productive in this type of terrain. This approach requires more resources and a much larger containment box, with a higher complexity level requiring a Complex Incident Management Team. With this new approach, we can expect this fire to get much bigger before it is contained.

Efforts to suppress this wildfire include 70 fire personnel, one fire engine, 5 helicopters, and multiple fixed-wing air tankers. 

All evacuation warnings and orders are issued through the local county’s Sheriff Office.

Tehama County Sheriff's Office– (530) 529-7900

Butte County Sheriff's Office – (833) 512-5378

Shasta County Sheriff's Office – (530) 245-6000

Plumas County Sheriff's Office – (530) 283-6375

For all Lassen National Forest Orders and closures, including the Park Fire Closure order with area map (Forest Order # 06-24-06) and the current  Fire Restrictions order (Forest Order # 06-24-04) visit their website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices. See Lassen Volcanic National Park website for up-to-date information on Lassen Volcanic National Park's closure information. 

Sections of Lassen Volcanic National Park to reopen Aug. 17 

MINERAL, Calif. — Lassen Volcanic National Park will partially reopen on Saturday, Aug. 17, following the lifting of some Park Fire evacuation orders and warnings. 

Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park will be open to vehicles from the Northwest Entrance at Manzanita Lake to the parking lot at Devastated Area. From there, the highway will be open only to bicycles and pedestrians to Summit Lake. The highway will be closed to all traffic from Summit Lake to the southwestern park boundary due to ongoing evacuation orders and warnings.   

The outlying areas of the park, such as Butte Lake, Juniper Lake, and Warner Valley, will remain closed until normal park operations resume. 

The standard $30 entrance fee will be in effect. Visitors should be prepared for limited services as park employees work to resume operations. Loomis Museum will be open for information Saturday through Tuesday, 10am - 4pm. The Lassen Association store will also resume normal operations on Saturday, Aug. 17.  

The Manzanita Lake Camper Store will be open for retail, “grab and go” food, laundry, and showers beginning Aug. 17. Gasoline will be made available as soon as possible. It’s yet to be determined if or when the Manzanita Lake Cabins will reopen.  

Manzanita Lake Campground will reopen to reservations beginning Monday, Aug. 26. Fires, including campfires and charcoal grills, are prohibited. Devices for cooking and lighting with ignition sources that can be turned off and that do not produce ash are permitted. Summit Lake Campground remains closed. The entire park remains closed to backcountry camping as long as any park closures are in place. 

Open hiking trails include Manzanita Lake, Nobles Emigrant, Chaos Crags, and Echo Lake/Twin Lakes. Trails that remain closed include Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak, and Mill Creek Falls. 

The 2024 Park Fire has burned more than 425,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Tehama, and Shasta counties and is the fourth largest fire in California’s history. Park staff was evacuated and are now in the process of returning. While the fire itself has not entered the park boundaries, the threat of fire remains on the park’s south side and in the local communities of Mineral and Mill Creek. The fire danger has dropped to safe levels in the areas of the park that are reopening, but visitors should expect that smoke may linger in the area and affect air quality and views. 

More than 6,000 personnel from several different agencies across the country have been assigned to the Park Fire incident. Recent cooler temperatures and higher humidity have assisted fire fighters in their containment efforts.  

We will communicate additional changes to operations, openings, and other park-specific information via our park’s website (www.nps.gov/lavo) and social media platforms.   

For the latest information regarding evacuation orders, check the local sheriff’s office’s communication channels or call 211. For information about the fire itself and management of firefighting operations, visit https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/24/park-fire. Information about the Park Fire is also available on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calnf-park-fire.   

For additional information about Lassen Volcanic National Park, please visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, "X" at x.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

Town Gulch Fire Evacuation Level Update

The following information is from the Baker County Sherriff's Office. Please refer to their Facebook page for further information. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434892363

After monitoring fire activity and the weather forecast, many evacuation areas outside of the fire footprint have been eliminated and areas within the fire perimeter on the southern end of the fire have been reduced from a Level 3 (GO NOW) to a Level 2 (BE SET).

Level 2 (BE SET): east of Summit Creek, south of Fawn Gulch, east again of Sparta Lane. North of the Idaho Power line to Immigrant Gulch then north of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) boundary line where it intersects Highway 86. The area west of the ODF boundary line to the Oar Hill and Fir Road intersection. West of Foothill Ditch, Mining Channel, Ryall to Lee Creek and the Forest Road 7710.

Level 3 (GO NOW): south of the Forest Road 7739 from the 7739 and 7735 intersection to the 7739 and 77 Road intersection. The area west of the 77 Road from the 7739 and 77 Road intersection down to the 090 spur then west of the 090 spur until you reach the National Forest Boundary in Township 8S Range 45 East Section 16. Then north of the National Forest Boundary line to Fawn Gulch to Sparta Lane. Then north of Sparta Lane to the Mitchell Road intersection. East of Mitchell Road to Eagle Creek then east of the Forest Road 7735 to the intersection with the 7739.

Thank you to Baker County Emergency Management for drafting the evacuation maps!

@Town Gulch Fire Information 2024

@Halfway Helpful (Bulletin Board)

2620 Road Fire

Incident Commander: Kent Stanford

Fire Information Phone Number: 360-323-1903

Email: 2024.2620Road@firenet.gov

Facebook: www.facebook.com/2620RoadFire2024

InciWeb: coming soon

3:30 PM, August 16, 2024

Estimated size:           445 acres

Containment:              0%

Start Date/Time:         8/14/2024 at 5:00 PM

Area of Origin:            West of Brinnon, North of Duckabush Rd. on Mt. Jupiter

Cause:                        Undetermined

Structures Damaged:    None

Update: 2620 Road Fire started Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 5:00 PM. The fire is burning in a recently logged area with steep terrain and heavy fuels. The structure protection group has resources assigned to all structures immediately adjacent to the fire. The ground has a heavy duff layer over hard rocky ground. This makes digging line harder and takes crews longer ensuring strong, quality line placement. Crews will continue scouting for anchor points along the fire including the upper flank of the fire. They are constructing suppression lines from the Southern and Eastern flank of the fire. More resources have been ordered to assist with fire suppression efforts. All air resources were grounded this morning due to visibility issues but, they are actively dropping water over the fire this afternoon. There are two helicopters and two scoopers currently assigned to the fire. The cooler weather and minimal winds help with ongoing suppression efforts.

Road Closures: Duckabush Road and Mt. Jupiter Road (2620 Road) is closed allowing for residential access only.

Evacuation Levels: The 2500 block and above of Duckabush Road is at a Level 2. The 1000 block up to the 2500 block of Duckabush Road is at a Level 1.

Level 1 “GET READY” Be aware of the danger in your area and start preparing for possible evacuation. Monitor local media and check on neighbors. If you do not already have an evacuation plan or a Go! kit, assemble these now. Conditions can change suddenly, and you may not receive a Level 2 "Be Set” warning before you are ordered to Level 3 “Go!” Prepare both the inside and outside of your home for fire. Leave if you feel unsafe -- do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 2 “GET SET” Be prepared for sudden or short-notice evacuation. People who need help or more time to evacuate -- such as people with disabilities, people with small children, people with medical conditions, and people with large animals -- should evacuate now. Ensure your evacuation plan checklist is complete and your Go! kit is in your vehicle. Stay informed and be aware of alerts from local law enforcement and fire departments. Always remember to leave if you feel unsafe, do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 3 “GO NOW” Go now! Danger in your area is current or imminent and you should evacuate immediately. Follow directions from law enforcement or fire departments and do not return home until officials have determined it is safe. Notification it is safe to return home will be given as soon as possible.

Air Space Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire. If you fly, we can’t.

Sheltering: There are no shelters at this time.

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Road 2620 Fire

Incident Commander: Kent Stanford

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WWIMT

1:30 PM, August 15, 2024

Estimated size:           150 acres

Containment:              0%

Start Date/Time:         8/14/2024 at 5:00 PM

Area of Origin:            West of Brinnon, North of Duckabush Rd. on Mt. Jupiter

Cause:                        Undetermined

Structures Damaged:    None

Road Closures: Duckabush Road is closed allowing for residential access only.

Evacuation Levels: The 2500 Block and above of Duckabush Road is at a Level 2. Mt. Jupiter is at a Level 1 alert for the entire Duckabush area.

Level 1 “GET READY” Be aware of the danger in your area and start preparing for possible evacuation. Monitor local media and check on neighbors. If you do not already have an evacuation plan or a Go! kit, assemble these now. Conditions can change suddenly, and you may not receive a Level 2 "Be Set” warning before you are ordered to Level 3 “Go!” Prepare both the inside and outside of your home for fire. Leave if you feel unsafe -- do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 2 “GET SET” Be prepared for sudden or short-notice evacuation. People who need help or more time to evacuate -- such as people with disabilities, people with small children, people with medical conditions, and people with large animals -- should evacuate now. Ensure your evacuation plan checklist is complete and your Go! kit is in your vehicle. Stay informed and be aware of alerts from local law enforcement and fire departments. Always remember to leave if you feel unsafe, do not wait for an official evacuation order.

Level 3 “GO NOW” Go now! Danger in your area is current or imminent and you should evacuate immediately. Follow directions from law enforcement or fire departments and do not return home until officials have determined it is safe. Notification it is safe to return home will be given as soon as possible.

Update: Road 2620 Fire started Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 5:00 PM. The fire is burning in a recently logged area with steep terrain and heavy fuels. There are two helicopters and two scoopers dropping water on the fire. Crews on the ground are working to place lines around the homes for protection.

Air Space Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire. If you fly, we can’t.

Sheltering: There are no shelters at this time.

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