Team Looking at Ways to Reduce Impact of Horsethief Canyon Fire
A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is gathering information and conducting field observations to determine how to reduce impacts of post-fire conditions in the Horsethief Canyon fire on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Mary Cernicek, Public Affairs Officer for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, says wildfire can increase the risk of flooding, erosion and sedimentation, debris flow, and weed establishment. BAER teams consider potential post-fire impacts to human life and safety, property, and cultural and natural resources. They then recommend actions or treatments to address those impacts.
Typical actions a BAER team considers include ground cover replacement, installation of water control devices such as water bars, area closures, weed treatment and placing warning signage. The team does not work on replacing losses due to fire. Cernicek says Resource specialists, including hydrologists, soil scientists, archeologists, biologists, recreation specialists, weeds specialists, and others will conduct a rapid assessment of resource conditions affected by the fire.
The BAER team completed a report and delivered it to the Forest on September 28th. Findings will be available to the public the next week.