Single Publication

INCIWEB UPDATE

SOUTH FORK AND SALT BAER ASSESSMENTS

JULY 6, 2024

This is the final InciWeb update for the Department of the Interior (DOI) and USDA Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment team. The team completed BAER plans for submission to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and two (initial and interim) funding emergency treatment requests for submission to the USFS Southwest Regional Office.

Yesterday, the team provided a close-out briefing to the Mescalero Apache Tribe and today, a close-out briefing to the Lincoln National Forest on respective treatments and cost estimates. These close-out meetings both discussed treatments that will cross jurisdictional boundaries to be effective. This morning, the team presented their findings to a room full of cooperating authorities like the village, city, counties, state, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). While the land managers, BIA and USFS, wait for funding approvals, the group will begin organizing around treatments on non-federal lands downstream from the burned areas.

Additional information on understanding the BAER program, process and other post-fire information is posted on the South Fork and Salt BAER InciWeb page found at: Nmmea South Fork And Salt Fires Burned Area Emergency Response Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov).

For further information on the status of the BAER reports, plans and implementation of the proposed treatments, please contact:

• Mescalero Apache Tribe, Elaina LaPaz, elapaz@mescaleroapachetribe.com
• Lincoln National Forest, Amanda Fry, amanda.fry@usda.gov

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/abq/.

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