BAER and the BAER and the Resource AdvisorResource AdvisorOr, why are we still here 2 months after Or, why are we still here 2 months after the fire was put out?the fire was put out?

BAER Definition:BAER Definition:

Burned-Area Emergency Response Burned-Area Emergency Response (BAER) –Objective - To determine the (BAER) –Objective - To determine the need for and to prescribe and implement need for and to prescribe and implement emergency treatments to minimize emergency treatments to minimize threats to life or property or to stabilize threats to life or property or to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources resulting natural and cultural resources resulting from the effects of a fire. from the effects of a fire.

BAER Definition, cont’d:BAER Definition, cont’d:

BAER does not cover BAER does not cover fire suppression or fire suppression or suppression – suppression – related rehabilitation.related rehabilitation.

No long-term No long-term restorationrestoration

No Private Land No Private Land treatmentstreatments

2523.06 - Timeframes2523.06 - Timeframes 1. Initial requests for funding for a Burned 1. Initial requests for funding for a Burned

Area Emergency Response (BAER) should be Area Emergency Response (BAER) should be submitted to the Regional Forester within 7 submitted to the Regional Forester within 7 calendar days after total containment of the calendar days after total containment of the fire, unless special arrangements have been fire, unless special arrangements have been negotiated. negotiated.

2. Regional responses (decisions or referral to 2. Regional responses (decisions or referral to Washington Office, Director of Watershed, Washington Office, Director of Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants) to BAER Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants) to BAER requests should be completed within 3 requests should be completed within 3 business days of receipt.business days of receipt.

3. Washington Office responses to BAER 3. Washington Office responses to BAER requests should be completed within 3 requests should be completed within 3 business days of receipt. business days of receipt.

You want it when? (cont’d)You want it when? (cont’d)

4. Approved treatments should be installed 4. Approved treatments should be installed before damaging or degrading events are likely before damaging or degrading events are likely to occur and absolutely no later than 1 year to occur and absolutely no later than 1 year after containment of the fire.after containment of the fire.

5. Monitoring approved emergency 5. Monitoring approved emergency stabilization treatments can occur for up to 3 stabilization treatments can occur for up to 3 years (FSM 2523.03).years (FSM 2523.03).

6. Maintenance, repair, or replacement of 6. Maintenance, repair, or replacement of emergency stabilization treatments can occur emergency stabilization treatments can occur for up to 3 years (FSM 2523.03).for up to 3 years (FSM 2523.03).

From FSH 2509.13, Forest Service From FSH 2509.13, Forest Service Handbook:Handbook:

““The Team Leader should immediately The Team Leader should immediately contact the Resource Advisor and contact the Resource Advisor and Planning Section Leader of the Planning Section Leader of the Incident Command Team for Incident Command Team for information on problem areas and to information on problem areas and to coordinate use of helicopters and coordinate use of helicopters and other equipment to provide rapid field other equipment to provide rapid field coverage.”coverage.”

So how does the BAER program So how does the BAER program interact with fire suppression and interact with fire suppression and

Resource Advisors?Resource Advisors? BAER team needs local unit contacts, of BAER team needs local unit contacts, of

which READ is often the best!!which READ is often the best!! BAER team leader meets & coordinates BAER team leader meets & coordinates

with IC and Planswith IC and Plans BAER team leader meets with Line BAER team leader meets with Line

Officers and designees (potentially Officers and designees (potentially READs)READs)

If BAER team has off-unit staff, access If BAER team has off-unit staff, access & logistics details are a big help& logistics details are a big help

Many fires will not get BAER Many fires will not get BAER treatmentstreatments!!

Don’t count on Don’t count on BAER paying for BAER paying for any aspect of any aspect of suppression rehab, suppression rehab, or any follow-up or any follow-up treatments for treatments for weeds, etc.weeds, etc.

Will BAER treatments be Will BAER treatments be prescribed for the READ’s prescribed for the READ’s

values at risk?values at risk? Is the resource threatened by post-fire Is the resource threatened by post-fire

hydrology (debris flows/flooding)?hydrology (debris flows/flooding)? Is there a cost/effective treatment that Is there a cost/effective treatment that

can diminish flooding or protect the can diminish flooding or protect the resource?resource?

Can it be implemented quickly, on FS Can it be implemented quickly, on FS Lands, and be effective on Lands, and be effective on implementation?implementation?

BAER focuses on threats associated with BAER focuses on threats associated with high and moderate burn severityhigh and moderate burn severity

Can the READ make the Can the READ make the BAER team’s life easier?BAER team’s life easier?

The READ has a chance of reducing fire The READ has a chance of reducing fire severity (and post-fire hydrologic severity (and post-fire hydrologic response) upslope of VARs by:response) upslope of VARs by: Influencing/communicating suppression Influencing/communicating suppression

strategy of home unitstrategy of home unit Advocating fuels thinning Advocating fuels thinning Burning out (use with caution). Burning out (use with caution).

The Transition – from fire to The Transition – from fire to post-firepost-fire

READ may have best knowledge of resources READ may have best knowledge of resources threatened by post-fire conditions, and threatened by post-fire conditions, and therefore, potential locations for treatmentstherefore, potential locations for treatments

READ may prescribe suppression rehab that READ may prescribe suppression rehab that could conflict with BAER assessment or could conflict with BAER assessment or treatment, or vice-versa – coordination is a treatment, or vice-versa – coordination is a good thing!good thing!

It’s your headache now It’s your headache now (transition cont’d.)(transition cont’d.)

BAER BAER maymay be able to be able to complement complement suppression rehab in the years following suppression rehab in the years following the fire, since BAER can request the fire, since BAER can request supplemental funding for treatments over supplemental funding for treatments over several yearsseveral years

Financially, BAER & Suppression Rehab Financially, BAER & Suppression Rehab must stay separate!!must stay separate!!

BAER and the Resource BAER and the Resource AdvisorAdvisor

BAER Post-Treatment Monitoring involves BAER Post-Treatment Monitoring involves local unit personnel local unit personnel – READ and others on – READ and others on forest or district often are involved in next forest or district often are involved in next year’s effectiveness monitoring.year’s effectiveness monitoring.

READ may have to convey district concerns to READ may have to convey district concerns to imported BAER team or implementation leader,imported BAER team or implementation leader, as BAER treatments may have unintended as BAER treatments may have unintended consequencesconsequences. .

The EndThe EndBe safe and keep up the good Be safe and keep up the good

work!work!