Suppression Rehabilitation and Burned Area Emergen
Incident: Gap Wildland Fire
Released: 7/19/2008
Gap Fire
Suppression Rehabilitation and
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)
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 the incident base, 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 on the Gap Fire.
- Suppression rehabilitation is done largely by firefighters, and often begins even before the fire is contained.
- Particular care is taken by rehabilitation crews and resource advisors to help protect cultural resources, Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES) 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 National Forest roads and trails may be rehabilitated to prevent trespass on the fireline by off-highway vehicles (OHV). 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) Team.
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 for the Gap Fire began their assessment of the burned area on July 17, 2008. The team includes specialists in hydrology, soil science, geology, biology, archaeology, engineering and other disciplines.
- The Gap BAER Team will look for opportunities to mitigate potential impacts to downstream values such as homes, businesses, reservoirs, roads, bridges, critical habitat and other values.
- BAER assessments are conducted only on National Forest system lands (49% of the area burned by the Gap Fire); however, the BAER Team coordinates closely and shares information with other Federal agencies that assist with private lands affected by the fire such as the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. The team also coordinates with representatives of state agencies such as Caltrans, and local agencies such as the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, local water districts, the City of Goleta and other entities concerned about post-fire impacts.
- Once the BAER Team finishes its assessments, any recommendations for treatments must be approved by the Forest Service Regional and Washington Office before actions can be implemented. Once treatments are approved, an implementation team will be assembled to begin the approved treatments.
- BAER treatments will be monitored for their effectiveness.
