Margie Clack, Public Information Officer
Sequoia National Forest

KERNVILLE, CA – A USDA Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is assembled this week in the Kern River Valley to assess hazards and effects of the nearly month old Piute Fire burning on the Sequoia National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands.

The Team’s primary mission is to evaluate potential threats to life and property and recommend treatments to reduce possible future resource damage resulting from the fire. The BAER Team will complete an assessment including a review of the burn severity, fire effects, and rehabilitation needs for cultural, natural, and recreational resources. The Team is focusing on the potential for detrimental erosion and increased water runoff from the loss of vegetation and ground cover. Members represent various resource areas including hydrology, soil science, archaeology, botany, geology, and engineering with experience working on wild land fires throughout California and the Western United States. The Team is led by Jerry DeGraff, a geologist, with the USDA Forest Service.

Meanwhile, fire crews are continuing fire suppression efforts as well as rehabilitating hand and dozer fire lines, removing debris from roads and trails, and taking down trees hazardous to public safety.

Suppression rehabilitation work has been slow-going and complicated by recent thunderstorms and flash flooding. Last Sunday, 60 firefighters were stranded on Kelso Valley Road around 5:30 p.m. when Kelso Creek flooded from heavy thunderstorm activity. The crews worked for 4 hours to clear debris and mudflow that blocked the roadway. They were able to return back to station after midnight.

Approximately, 100 firefighters remain on the fire incident today, mopping up hot spots, and completing fire suppression rehabilitation work. Two water-dropping helicopters are assisting firefighters by extinguishing interior hot spots. In addition, two dozers, two water tenders, and other fire support personnel are working the fire incident. Some access roads to the fire area are heavily damaged due to recent thunderstorms and will require extensive repairs before being opened to the public.

The “Piute Fire Area Closure” issued by the Sequoia National Forest and BLM on July 1, remains in effect. This area includes all access points west of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), BLM closures include Nichols Peak, Bright Star Wilderness Area, Cortez Canyon, Dry Canyon, Jawbone Canyon and Lynch Canyon, Piute Mountain Road, Saddle Springs Road, Erskine Creek Road, and ALL ROUTES OF TRAVEL west of the PCT, are closed to Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Other road closures include McCray Road from the end of the pavement south and Fawn Drive from the end of the pavement south. There is also an area closure in effect for the Piute Mountains from Piute Mountain Road at Caliente Creek Road, Jawbone Canyon Road south of Piute Mountain Road, roads 29S02 and 29S03 and Erskine Creek road at the end of the pavement.

The public can expect to see visible smoke from the Piute Fire for several more weeks. Currently, the Piute Fire is 97% contained with full containment expected Friday, July 25. It remains at 37,000 acres.