Zaca Fire - BAER News

Zaca Fire Suppression Rehabilitation and Burned Area Emergency Response - BAER

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Incident: Zaca
Released: 3 hrs. ago

Background Information

Suppression Rehabilitation

• "Fire Suppression Rehabilitation" also called "Fire Suppression Activity Damage Repair" involves the rehabilitation of constructed firelines---areas cleared of vegetation by hand and bulldozer to control the fire---in order to minimize erosion on the lines during winter rains. Rehabilitating base and spike camps, fixing fences, roads and drainage structures, and any other physical features that were damaged by efforts to put out the fire is also included in this type of work.
• Fire suppression rehabilitation is currently being conducted on dozer and hand lines; including lines within the wilderness. The Zaca Fire has over 300 miles of dozer and hand lines that will be analyzed for rehabilitation needs.
• Suppression rehabilitation is done largely by firefighters, and often begins even before the fire is contained. This work has started on both the Live Oak and Richardson Zones of the Zaca Fire.
• Particular care is taken by rehabilitation crews and resource advisors to help protect cultural resources, Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive species habitat, wetlands and other sensitive habitat areas during the rehabilitation process.
• There are many methods used in suppression rehabilitation, including construction of rolling dips and dirt "water bars" to divert water off the lines, scattering of cut brush on the lines, and other techniques.
• Firelines constructed along or intersecting Forest roads and trails may be rehabilitated to prevent trespass on the fireline by Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Strategies to prevent OHV trespass can include placement of boulders and/or various types of temporary fencing materials as necessary to minimize the potential for unauthorized use of a fireline.
• Suppression Rehabilitation is coordinated with the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams(s).

BAER - Burned Area Emergency Response

• BAER is a Forest Service program with the goal of protecting life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems from further damage from flooding after the fire is out.
• BAER does not seek to repair areas that were damaged by the fire, but to reduce further watershed damage from flooding or landslides due to the land being temporarily exposed in a fragile condition.
• The BAER Team members include specialists in hydrology, soil science, biology, geology, GIS, recreation facilities and engineering.
• The BAER Team will look for opportunities to mitigate potential impacts to downstream values such as reservoirs, homes, bridges, roads and critical wildlife and fisheries habitat.
• BAER assessments are conducted on Forest Service lands only.
• The Forest Service BAER Team coordinates and shares information with other Federal agencies and local agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service and county watershed protection districts. These agencies may conduct separate assessments for private lands that occur off Forest Service lands.
• Once the BAER Team finishes its assessments, any recommendations for treatments will need to be approved by the Forest Service Regional or Washington Office before actions can be implemented.
• Once treatments are approved, an implementation team will be ordered and begin implementing the approved treatments.