NORTH STAR POST-FIRE BAER SOIL BURN SEVERITY MAP RELEASED

Release Date: Nov 9, 2015

Contact(s): Cathleen Thompson (707) 853-4243

Colville National Forest Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Post-Fire BAER Assessment & Implementation

 

NORTH STAR POST-FIRE BAER SOIL BURN SEVERITY MAP RELEASED

 

BAER Information: (415) 881-1871

 

BAER specialists recently completed their data gathering and verification field work for the 18,000 acres of the North Star Fire that burned on the Colville National Forest (NF) and the 27,000 acres that burned on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and finalized a Soil Burn Severity map.  Soil Burn Severity mapping levels are 1) Unburned/Very Low, 2) Low, 3) Moderate, and 4) High.

The map shows that approximately 58% of the 43,000 acres analyzed by the BAER team within the fire perimeters of the North Star Fire are either unburned or have a low soil burn severity, while 32% sustained a moderate soil burn severity and 10% received a high soil burn severity.

The BAER assessment team used the map and field assessments to estimate potential impacts to human life, safety, and property from storm events and considered emergency stabilization options for those critical resources.

BAER team leader John Chatel stated, "The high severity burned watersheds in the North Star Fire have the potential for increased runoff, erosion, and debris flows after intense rain storm events which can create a concern for public safety, homes near stream channels, roads, and trails downslope and downstream from the burned area.  The public should stay alert to their surroundings next summer if summer thunderstorms are predicted."

The soil burn severity BAER map showing the Colville NF burned acres can be downloaded at the “2015 Colville NF Post-Fire BAER” InciWeb site as a JPEG or PDF version under the “maps” tab.

A "Field Guide for Mapping Post-Fire Soil Burn Severity" can help with interpreting the map and can be found online at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr243.pdf.

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the North Star Fire burned area should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scar.  Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events.  Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service, Spokane Office (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/) website.

Colville NF Post-Fire BAER Assessment & Implementation information is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4646/.

 

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Cathleen Thompson -- BAER Information Officer

      Cell: (707) 853-4243 – Email: cjthompson01@fs.fed.us

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