B A E R

Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation

As the fire suppression activities begin to diminish, a second important effort begins within the area affected by the wildfires, namely the rehabilitation of the effects of the fire.  On a wildfire, this consists of two separate and distinct efforts.  The first rehabilitation effort is directly related to the effects of fire suppression activities.  This includes rehabilitating fire lines, roads, trails, base camps, fixing fences, or any other physical feature that was damaged by efforts to put the fire out.

The second rehabilitation task is on a much larger scale than fire suppression rehabilitation.  This effort examines the entire wildfire and the effects of the burn on soil, watershed and other resources as it relates to threats to life and property. Termed the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) process, it is a comprehensive examination of the entire fire area for the effects of the fire itself.  The BAER effort uses a variety of resource experts to make an initial assessment of the effects of the fire on the soils, the watershed, the wildlife, the fish, and the vegetation in the fire area.   

After the area is assessed, the BAER team proposes a set of alternative prescriptions in the form of a rehabilitation plan to local Forest Service officials to minimize the effects from the fire to resources and life and property within and directly adjacent to the fire. The prescriptions can include such activities as seeding, hay mulch, and vegetation planting that are designed specifically to meet resource objectives, such as minimizing erosion.  Also included in the plan is a monitoring plan that will examine the effectiveness of BAER treatments.   The monitoring is crucial knowledge that will be used in future BAER efforts.

The BAER team works quickly and efficiently, since their rehabilitation plan must be submitted within three days from the date the Lytle Fire is declared controlled.