BAER and the Resource Advisor

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BAER and the Resource Advisor

• Or, why are we still here 2 months after the fire
  was put out?

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BAER Definition

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

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BAER Definition, contd

• BAER does not cover fire suppression or
  suppression related rehabilitation.
• No long-term restoration
• No Private Land treatments

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2523.06 - Timeframes

• 1. Initial requests for funding for a Burned
  Area Emergency Response (BAER) should be
  submitted to the Regional Forester within 7
  calendar days after total containment of the
  fire, unless special arrangements have been
  negotiated.
• 2. Regional responses (decisions or referral to
  Washington Office, Director of Watershed, Fish,
  Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants) to BAER requests
  should be completed within 3 business days of
  receipt.
• 3. Washington Office responses to BAER requests
  should be completed within 3 business days of
  receipt.

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You want it when? (contd)

• 4. Approved treatments should be installed
  before damaging or degrading events are likely to
  occur and absolutely no later than 1 year after
  containment of the fire.
• 5. Monitoring approved emergency stabilization
  treatments can occur for up to 3 years (FSM
  2523.03).
• 6. Maintenance, repair, or replacement of
  emergency stabilization treatments can occur for
  up to 3 years (FSM 2523.03).

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From FSH 2509.13, Forest Service Handbook

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

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So how does the BAER program interact with fire
suppression and Resource Advisors?

• BAER team needs local unit contacts, of which
  READ is often the best!!
• BAER team leader meets coordinates with IC and
  Plans
• BAER team leader meets with Line Officers and
  designees (potentially READs)
• If BAER team has off-unit staff, access
  logistics details are a big help

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Many fires will not get BAER treatments!

• Dont count on BAER paying for any aspect of
  suppression rehab, or any follow-up treatments
  for weeds, etc.

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Will BAER treatments be prescribed for the READs
values at risk?

• Is the resource threatened by post-fire hydrology
  (debris flows/flooding)?
• Is there a cost/effective treatment that can
  diminish flooding or protect the resource?
• Can it be implemented quickly, on FS Lands, and
  be effective on implementation?

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BAER focuses on threats associated with high and
moderate burn severity
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Can the READ make the BAER teams life easier?

• The READ has a chance of reducing fire severity
  (and post-fire hydrologic response) upslope of
  VARs by
• Influencing/communicating suppression strategy of
  home unit
• Advocating fuels thinning
• Burning out (use with caution).

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The Transition from fire to post-fire

• READ may have best knowledge of resources
  threatened by post-fire conditions, and
  therefore, potential locations for treatments
• READ may prescribe suppression rehab that could
  conflict with BAER assessment or treatment, or
  vice-versa coordination is a good thing!

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Its your headache now (transition contd.)

• BAER may be able to complement suppression rehab
  in the years following the fire, since BAER can
  request supplemental funding for treatments over
  several years
• Financially, BAER Suppression Rehab must stay
  separate!!

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BAER and the Resource Advisor

• BAER Post-Treatment Monitoring involves local
  unit personnel READ and others on forest or
  district often are involved in next years
  effectiveness monitoring.
• READ may have to convey district concerns to
  imported BAER team or implementation leader, as
  BAER treatments may have unintended consequences.

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The EndBe safe and keep up the good work!