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Thoughts from the Chief - Schultz Fire June 28th, 2010 Dear Friends and Neighbors, We are sending you this letter today for two main reasons. First of all we would like for you to be aware that while the Schultz Fire is over 60% contained as of today and we think there will be no further fire spread, there are other significant concerns that include flooding. Attached you will find information that will help direct you to information sites as well as meetings. The devastation the Schultz Fire has brought will impact our community for many years to come. The most immediate concern is that of flooding and we have a limited time to begin our efforts before the start of the Monsoon season. The U.S. Forest Service, Coconino County and the Summit Fire District are being proactive to provide mitigation measures for you to protect your homes. We need for this to be a collaborative, cohesive approach on the part of all of us, government officials and homeowners alike in order to develop an comprehensive plan that will minimize loss. Please attend the listed meetings and use our web sites to gather information. Lastly I would like to say thank you for the overwhelming support and cooperation you have provided us. I have traveled to many fires all over our great country and never have I or anyone on the Incident management Team seen the kind of generosity that you have given to all of us. It is truly remarkable to be on the receiving end. We were successful for many various reasons but one of the most important was the solid relationships the firefighting community in the Greater Flagstaff area has with each other and the tremendous support given to us by our communities. We will have more to say later but right now there is a lot of work to be done so please help us in our endeavors to provide a coordinated response to the potential flooding that could come our way. Thank you for everything. Sincerely, Don Howard Fire Chief ______________________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest For Immediate Release June 29, 2010 Contact: Connie Birkland or Brady Smith Tel: 928-527-3600 or 928-606-3845 Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team begins work on the Schultz Fire Flagstaff, AZ – Although the initial threat of the Schultz Fire has passed, post-fire conditions are being assessed to recommend preventative treatments and emergency stabilization given the upcoming monsoon season. An interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is currently gathering information and will be making recommendations to assess overall fire damage, fire suppression effects and prepare mitigation measures. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 7th, 7 p.m. at Coconino High School, to share the initial findings of the BAER team report and to answer individual questions pertaining to emergency protection. Local elected officials will be available to assist in the outreach coordination and information sharing. Cooperating agencies and local officials working with the BAER team to help implement emergency protection measures and to help keep residents informed include: Coconino County, Summit Fire Department, US Geological Service, City of Flagstaff, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Coconino National Forest, and the National Weather Bureau. Information concerning the BAER team findings and current conditions will be posted online as available: www.coconinoforest.us and www.inciweb.org.
BEGINS WORK ON THE SCHULTZ FIRE Shortly after the fire began, the Coconino National Forest Supervisor began organizing the Schultz Fire Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team. This team is composed of multi-agency, multi- disciplined resource specialists that are being assembled to assess fire damage, fire suppression effects and prepare mitigation measures. The BAER team is made up of resource specialists with expertise in hydrology, soils, engineering, biology, vegetation and cultural resources. Local stakeholders, agency representatives and BAER team members met Monday June 28, to begin gathering information and to discuss potential concerns. The primary objectives are to protect life and property, and significant cultural and natural resources from post fire damage that may occur as a direct result of the oncoming monsoon rains. The BAER team will prepare an Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan report to document fire suppression effects and to make recommendations for short term mitigation and long term management. This Plan will cover the vicinity within and down drainage from the fire area. Upon completion, short-term emergency stabilization and rehabilitation measures will be initiated. The Team will focus on the potential for accelerated erosion and runoff from the loss of vegetation and charred soils. BAER team specialists have begun mapping the overall burn severity and fire effects. Fire crews have begun taking down tree hazards and working to stabilize potential run-off. Cooperating agencies assisting the BAER team include: Coconino County, Summit Fire Department, US Geological Service, City of Flagstaff, Coconino National Forest, National Weather Bureau and the US Natural Resource Conservation Service. Anticipated completion of the fire assessment will take place over the next week and delivery of the plan to the agencies will be accomplished shortly thereafter. Long term restoration measures and funding will take place at a later date. Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team reports contain evaluations designed to assist federal, state and local officials in creating comprehensive remediation plans and to guide restoration efforts. |
Summit Fire District
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