Rapid-deployment data-collection networks for wildland fire applications

Abstract

Rapid-deployment data-collection networks were developed for wildland fire applications like the Missionary Ridge Fire. The Missionary Ridge Fire began June 9, 2002, near Durango, Colorado. An Interagency Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Team arrived in Durango, Colorado, to assess the fire. At that time, the fire had burned over 70,000 acres and was still actively burning. The fire was contained on July 14, after consuming 73,400 acres. The team was charged with assessing the potential postfire effects on health and safety, and risks to property and natural resources. From this assessment, the team would prescribe treatments on Federal lands to reduce damage to the values at risk from the burned watersheds. The team found that human life was at risk early in their assessment. The fire originated near the town of Durango and intensely burned the steep watersheds above the east side of town. From there, the fire moved in a northeasterly direction and burned areas around Vallecito and Lemon Reservoirs. Both of the reservoirs are municipal water supplies. Many homes and roads are located below burned watersheds and in the direct path of predicted flood and debris-flow areas (fig. 1). The BAER team calculated that relatively small amounts of rainfall could cause flood