Burn Area Emergency Response process begins on High Park Fire

An interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has begun gathering information and conducting field observations to determine how to reduce the impacts from the High Park Fire. The team is comprised of resource specialists from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Larimer County, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Wildfire increases the risk of flooding, erosion and sedimentation, debris flow and reduced water quality following the burn. BAER teams consider potential immediate post-fire impacts to human life and safety, property, cultural and natural resources. They recommend actions to address prioritized concerns. The USFS is responsible for addressing concerns on National Forest System lands and the NRCS has an equivalent authority to address concerns on non-Federal lands. Typical actions a BAER team considers include mulching, installation of water control devices such as culverts or water bars, area closures, and/or placing warning signage. The team does not work on replacing losses of improvements due to fire.

Resource specialists, including hydrologists, soil scientists, archeologists, engineers, biologists, recreation specialists and others conduct a rapid assessment of resource conditions affected by the fire.

The BAER team plans to complete a report by Friday, July 13. Findings will be shared with affected parties and the public the following week. The team will meet with affected parties, including water providers and residents within the burned area, to discuss their concerns and let them know how the team operates.

Please continue to check http://inciweb.org/incident/2904/ for the latest information on the fire and updates on BAER activities.