Barry Point Fire Update 8-30-12
Incident: Barry Point Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/30/2012
Barry Point Fire Update
Thursday, August 30, 2012 0900
Fire Information: 541-947-2719
Crews are completing the mop-up phase of the Barry Point Fire and the focus now is on ensuring that the fire lines, suppression damage and roads used to contain the fire are repaired to a state that will provide public safety and protect the land and resources. This work includes, among other things, hazard tree removal, installing waterbars, chipping slash, removing berms, and pulling material back over the fire lines to protect the ground from erosion. Unburned fuels well within the interior of the fire perimeter will continue to burn and produce smoke until they burn out or a weather-changing event, such as heavy rains or snow, put them out. There is no threat to homes and the fire will continue to be monitored.
"This fire burned at a variety of intensities, creating a mosaic of ecological and visual effects," notes Incident Commander Steve Gage. "At times it was a hot, fast moving crown fire that burned nearly everything in its path, but at other times it laid down and became a lower intensity ground fire. This is the normal process of fires in these types of burning conditions."
A 15 member Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) is completing its assessment of the effects of the Barry Point Fire and will be submitting recommendations by the end of the week. BAER is focused on alleviating emergency conditions to help stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement; prevent impairment of ecosystems; mitigate significant threats to health, safety, life, property and downstream values at risk. BAER does not seek to replace what is damaged by fire, but to reduce further damage due to the land being temporarily exposed in a fragile condition. Using a variety of methods, from satellite imagery, to aerial reconnaissance, to ground-truthing, these specialists identify the resource values affected by the fire, analyze the risk the post-fire conditions present in the immediate future, and make recommendations to mitigate any serious threats. BAER can be thought of as "first aid" to the fire area.
Even though the fire is now contained, area closures in California and Oregon are still in effect to provide public and firefighter safety while crews and equipment continue to work in the area.
Closures:
On the Fremont-Winema National Forest all the National Forest Lands, recreation sites, roads and trails in Yokum Valley, the Fitzwater/Point Ranch area, Dog Mountain, Long Valley, Drews Valley (south of Highway140), Dent Creek and Barry Point.
On the Modoc National Forest the entire area, including all roads, from the Oregon/California border south to the Big Sage Management Area then to the west to the 73 Road and east to Goose Lake.
Also, on the Modoc NF the Janes Camp Ground is closed.
