For Immediate Release: Friday, August 27, 2004 CA-N-04-91
Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332; Irv Gasser (530) 224-2100

BLM COMMITS EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR FRENCH FIRE RECOVERY EFFORT

Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke today announced the agency’s commitment to fund watershed protection and other emergency stabilization work on lands burned by the French Fire near the community of French Gulch west of Redding. The initial commitment is $1.9 million.

Director Clarke made the announcement after touring the scene of the blaze, which charred more than 13,200 acres and destroyed 28 homes after breaking out Saturday, Aug. 14.

Emergency stabilization measures were designed by members of a federal Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team, which was dispatched to French Gulch shortly before the fire was contained.

“This team of scientists and natural resource experts did an excellent job of assessing the situation and designing projects that will help protect property and lives from potential flooding and landslides this winter,” Clarke said. “The BLM is providing funding immediately so that work can get underway prior to the onset of winter rains.”

The multi-disciplinary BAER Team has recommended a number of actions including repair and contouring of fire lines, mulching and seeding burned areas, and installation of sandbags and concrete barriers to help direct and control water runoff. The emergency stabilization plan also calls for removal of trees that are in danger of falling, road repair, actions to protect Native American heritage sites and work to protect impacts to fisheries.

“The BAER Team has worked tirelessly on this effort. The process has worked smoothly, and can be viewed as a national model for efficiently putting together a quality emergency stabilization plan,” Clarke said.

The BAER Team includes a full range of natural and cultural resources disciplines including geologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, archaeologists, environmental compliance specialists, geographic information system specialists, wildlife biologists and specialists in vegetation management, operations and documentation.

Members come from federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since arriving at the French Fire scene they have worked closely with local and state agencies including the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District and Shasta County.

-BLM-

Redding Field Office 355 Hemsted Drive Redding, CA 96002