You are Here: HOME » Burned Area Emergency Response (B.A.E.R)

Page Tools:

Burned Area Emergency Response (B.A.E.R.)

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires cause damage that requires special efforts to prevent problems afterwards. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion, water runoff may increase and cause flooding, sediments may move downstream and damage houses or fill reservoirs, and put endangered species and community water supplies at risk. The Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) program is designed to address these situations.

The BAER program addresses the key goals of protecting life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems.

BAER objectives are to:

1. Determine if emergency resource or human health and safety conditions exist.
2. Alleviate 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.
3. Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of emergency treatments.