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Piute Fire Example Mojave National Preserve

Ordered by IC via Dispatch September 4, 2004 at 2200 (Friday, Labor Day Weekend) Call from Dispatch –Local Type 4 IC ordering you as READ for an initial attack fire in Piute Creek –Report to Fort Piute 0600 September 5

What do you do at dispatch?

Accept assignment per local unit policy Get as many details as you can! –When was fire reported? About 1600 today –Cause? Unknown –Who reported it? local firefighter noticed the column when he was driving home –What resources are assigned? 2 local Type III engines on it now –Which engines and who’s IC? On order for tomorrow: FMO as IC3, 1 more engine + 1 helitack crew –Who? –Lat/long given to helitack? –What’s the cell coverage there? Radio coverage? –What freqs?

How do you prepare before you go?

Get your gear together – be self contained Use GIS to scope the situation –lat/long –contours, roads, streams, vegetation –wilderness, endangered species habitat, cultural sites, range Print maps (1:24k + one smaller view) –One with READ details for me –One basic for everyone else

Report to Incident

Arrive on scene

Arrive on Scene, Now what?

Tie in with ICs Get briefing on suppression effort and fire behavior Alert incoming IC of resource concerns Offer maps Work with IC on suppression strategy Provide READ briefing to incoming crews Survey burned area for resource damage Map fire perimeter

Primary resource concerns Potential habitat for two federally listed endangered birds: –southwestern willow flycatcher –least Bell’s vireo Designated critical habitat for federally listed threatened desert tortoise Documented cultural sites: –Fort Piute Historic District –Piute historic ranch: managed by California Game and Fish –several prehistoric habitation and petroglyph sites Undocumented cultural sites on river terraces, new petroglyphs exposed Designated Wilderness Locally rare riparian habitat

Primary resource concerns Potential habitat for two federally listed endangered birds: –southwestern willow flycatcher –least Bell’s vireo Designated critical habitat for federally listed threatened desert tortoise Documented cultural sites: –Fort Piute Historic District –Piute historic ranch: managed by California Game and Fish –several prehistoric habitation and petroglyph sites Undocumented cultural sites on river terraces, new petroglyphs exposed Designated Wilderness Locally rare riparian habitat Actions taken to avoid or minimize impacts to resources?

Actions taken to avoid or minimize impacts to resources

How do you document and who do you notify?

After discussion with Danette Woo, Compliance Specialist at Mojave National Preserve, consult with Dr. Creed Clayton, Endangered Species Biologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Service – Ventura Ecological Services Office, regarding potential impacts to listed species and restoration needs, if any. Pursue Burned Area Emergency Response funding or other funding sources to implement any restoration recommendations. Discuss with Dr. Matt Brooks, Fire Ecologist at US Geological Survey – Las Vegas Field Office, his interest in pursuing any fire effects or fire ecology research related to fire response of this desert riparian community. Discuss with Dr. Bob Bryson, Archaeologist at Mojave National Preserve, his interest in conducting post-fire site assessment to determine if any cultural sites were damaged by the fire or suppression effort and to survey for new sites. Notify Annie Kearns, Hydrologist at Mojave National Preserve, in the event she wants to document post-fire floodplain response and to get Piute Creek prioritized for annual tamarisk treatment for the next several years. Notify Kim Allison, Range Specialist at Bureau of Land Management Needles Field Office, that range improvements (water pipeline) were destroyed in the fire. It is unclear if the pipeline was still being used to convey water to the adjacent BLM grazing allotment. Gordon Pine, Lands Officer at Mojave National Preserve, regarding status of California Game and Fish parcel and contact information. PUT EVERYTHING IN THE RESOURCE ADVISOR REPORT!

Post-fire Concerns?

Unclear if listed riparian birds use the area Tamarisk increase in riparian corridor Burned pipeline no longer used Potential suppression or fire impacts to known and unknown cultural sites –Exposure of petroglyphs Potential for post-fire looting of exposed sites Concern for public safety in channel due to flash flood, burned stump holes, etc.

How do you address those concerns?

Do fire suppression rehab –Map all suppression efforts –Rehab fire line –Rake tracks Consult Agency Administrator and Regional BAER Coordinator then Initiate Emergency Stabilization Process –Use ad hoc team to do assessments –Develop treatments –Do SHPO and FWS consultations –Submit ES Plan on September 12 How do you address those concerns?

BAER Plan

BAER Plan Approved This plan has been approved by Pacific West Region with modification. The modification is the deletion of Specification #5 ((Evaluate TES Habitat recovery) and Specification #6 (Endangered Species Survey) because they were determined to be outside of the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation funding criteria. Subsequently, the cost of Specification #8 (Implementation Leader) was reduced by half. The total amount approved and funded is $58,933. Specification #1: Restrict Public Access Specification #2: Law Enforcement Specification #3: Install Sensors Specification #4: Salt cedar control Specification #7: Pipeline removal Specification #8: Implementation Leader

Implement BAER Plan Amended in September 2005 to remove the public use closure Submitted Final Accomplishment Report October 1, 2005

Herbaceous Veg Recovery September 10, days post-fire July 2005

Woody Veg Recovery April 2005 July 2005