The Hayman Fire burned trees and plants on thousands of acres, and in many places it destroyed the litter layer (needles, twigs and leaves) of the forest floor. Vegetation is gone that shielded the soil from pounding by intense rains, and plant roots no longer stabilize the soil.  In many areas the fire was so hot that it created a waxy coating on the surface that causes the soil to repel water "hydrophobicity" and increase runoff.

These conditions have the potential to create other disasters: mudslides and floods.  That's why the Forest Service sent a BAER team to start work while the fire was still burning.

The BAER team's goal is to keep the soil in place.  They plan actions based on the severity of burning in different parts of the burn area.  These include placing erosion barriers such as cut logs on slope contours to collect soil and hold runoff, scarifying (breaking up) burned soil, spreading grass seed and mulching.

The team completed the plan within days of the fire's containment, and crews began to work.  In steep and inaccessible country aircraft crews will do the work.

The Forest Service contracted for three aerial operations:  hydro-mulching, seeding, and straw distribution.

• Application of hydro-mulch (recycled wood fiber, grass seed, water and a binding agent) has been applied via helicopter on 1,569 acres of heavily burned slope. This phase of the BAER project was completed on September 15th.
• Aerial seeding is complete on over 19,835 acres. The seed mix is an annual cereal rye mixture, which will germinate readily and persist for two to three years to provide ground cover until the native grasses and forbs come back.
• Approximately 6,000 acres have been treated as part of an aerial dry mulching project (applying straw to burned slopes via helicopter) during the month of September. Straw (the stem of the hay, not used as a food source for animals) is applied over previously seeded areas. The straw helps to minimize erosion during rains, and provides necessary moisture and shade for quicker seed germination. This project has ceased due to the end of the monsoon season and the onset of winter. Both of these factors greatly lessen the likelihood of excessive runoff and erosion.

Ground Operations

• Seeding and scarification (raking the soil) has been completed on 13,800 acres.
• Hydro-mulch is being applied by truck to 1,500 acres along Forest Roads and highways, 300 feet on either side of 25 miles of designated roads. Completion expected the first week in October.
• Many private landowners in the burn area have been contacted to assess risks from adjacent National Forest lands. BAER is working with Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to formulate and implement plans with landowners for rehabilitation.
• Culverts and stream crossings within the burn area are being cleaned and reinforced to prevent washout along roads. Grading and reconditioning of the roads within the fire area is ongoing.
• The Lake George ICP has been demobilized, and the grounds within and around the camp are being rehabilitated. The roads at the Lake George Community Park have been graded and reconditioned. The area used for the fire camp is being seeded and straw mulch is being applied. The park has been reopened for public use.
• Treatment of noxious weeds is complete on 340 acres within and adjacent to the fire area.
• An archaeological assessment and clearance of all areas where BAER treatment will create ground disturbance has been achieved. Two sites within the fire area were identified as needing protection using straw-bale check-dams, which have been completed.
• Remote Area Weather Stations (RAWS) have been installed in and around the fire area. This will facilitate early detection of rainfall for public evacuation and emergency warnings when needed.

The Hayman Fire BAER Team assessment began in mid-June 2002 while the fire was burning. Efforts on the ground began July 18th, 2002, the same date the fire was controlled. A Burned Area Report issued on July 5th, 2002, assessed the burn area consisting of 99,266 acres of National Forest land, 373 acres of State land, and 15,724 acres of private land.