Resources
Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in central Washington, but their increasing frequency and intensity mean it's important for communities, recreationists, and other forest visitors to be prepared. Whether you're hiking through forest trails or living near National Forest System land, being prepared is not optional, it's a critical part of living in or visiting a fire adapted landscape. On this page you'll find information and resources for recreating and living in fire prone areas.
Safe Recreation in Fire Adapted Central Washington
- Come prepared and do not rely on being notified by officials if a new fire threatens the area.
- Know before you go.
- Always carry the 10 outdoor essentials.
- Bring a map and a compass.
- Tell someone your trip plan.
- If there is a trailhead register, use it.
- Don't count on cell phones to work in remote locations.
- Be prepared to self-rescue.
- If you do come across a new fire, evaluate the situation.
Learn more about safely recreating on the forest during fire season
Forest visitors always assume risk when recreating in wild and natural areas, but in burned areas those risks are greater. Learn the risks of recreating in burned areas and play it safe by choosing activities that are in your comfort zone and match your level of experience and skill. Risks in burned areas include falling trees and limbs, uneven/unstable ground full of holes from burned root systems, falling rocks, difficulty navigating through sections of trail, and possible landslides, debris flows, and flash floods. These are elevated during high winds, and during and after heavy rains and winter storms.
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)
While many wildfires cause little damage to the land and pose few threats to fish, wildlife and people downstream, some fires create situations that require special efforts to prevent further problems after the fire. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; runoff may increase and cause flooding, sediments may move downstream and damage houses or fill reservoirs and put endangered species and community water supplies at risk. The Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program addresses these situations on Forest Service lands with the goal of guarding the safety of Forest visitors and employees and protecting Federal property, water quality, and critical natural or cultural resources from further damage after the fire is out. Information collected by the Forest Service BAER teams is shared with other Federal, State and local emergency response agencies so they can provide assistance to communities and private landowners who may also be affected by potential post-fire damage.
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a team of specialist who identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the first major storms. Their objectives are to:
- Determine whether imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources exist on National Forest System lands and to take immediate actions to manage the unacceptable risks.
- If emergency conditions are identified, mitigate potential threats to health, safety, human life, property and values-at-risk.
- Recommend emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources.
- Implement emergency response actions to help control water flow, sediment and debris movement and potentially reduce threats to the BAER values identified. Treatments may be applied when an analysis shows that planned actions are likely to reduce risks substantially within the first year following containment of the fire.
- Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of emergency treatments applied on National Forest lands.
In most cases, only a portion of the burned area may actually be treated. Severely burned areas, steep slopes, and places where water run-off will be excessive and may impact certain resources are typically prioritized for emergency treatment.
As large wildfires occur in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment team will be assembled to analyze post-fire condition of burned watersheds and to plan emergency stabilization treatments for fire areas.
BAER reports are posted here when they become available.
- 2024 Pioneer Fire
- 2024 Retreat Fire
- 2024 Easy Fire
- 2025 Lower Sugarloaf Fire
- 2025 Labor Mountain Fire
Work conducted by BAER teams focuses on National Forest System lands. However, the BAER teams coordinate closely with state and local partners to ensure a comprehensive response. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources conducts their own assessments on certain post-fire landscapes and local conservation districts provide resources for affected private landowners.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources - Wildfire associated debris flow information.
After the Fire Washington - Fire recovery resources for affected individuals and landowners.
Local Conservation Districts - Resources for fire affected landowners.
USGS Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards - Maps of debris flow potential associated with recent wildfires.