Coarsegold Resource Conservation District Report on the North Fork Fire

On September 1, 1999, the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District received a watershed improvement grant of $311,500 to improve water quantity and quality in the Willow Creek drainage.  The project was designed to reimburse private property owners for treating brush on their property and for constructing a 3-mile long fuel break.  By August 1, 2001, property owners had treated 416 acres and the proposed fuel break was about half completed.

At noon, August 20, 2001, the 4,000+ acre North Fork fire started in the middle of the project!

The Willow Creek Watershed Improvement project played a major role in the fire fighters ability to "herd" the fire away from the Marina View subdivision at Bass Lake to the north of the fire and from the community of North Fork to the south of the fire.  Properties cleared in the program also were ideal for burning out along fire lines and for the major back fire that finally halted the spread of the fire.

The fire started about 300 feet west of Road 274 in dense brush and trees and spread across the road within 15 or 20 minutes of the fire start.  The 274 fuel break was scheduled to be completed (where the fire roared across) this winter.  The chances of the fire jumping the road with the fuel break in place are slim.  In other words, if the fire occurred at this time in 2002, it would probably have been 10 acres in size and cost a few thousand dollars to extinguish.  As it is, the fire exceeded 4,000 acres and cost almost $5,000,000 to extinguish.

The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District is dedicated to improving watersheds in our area.  In reviewing the effects our project had on the fire, we discovered the Forest Service policy of limiting activities, including fuel reduction, within 150 feet of each side of dry washes creates increased erosion potential following a fire.  The fire exploded up dry draws on the east side of Willow Creek consuming everything.  The ash and bare banks will fill Willow Creek with ash and silt adversely affecting trout, amphibians, and down stream users.

The following pictures document our claims.  They may be used by anyone to promote in any way, shape or form, the reduction of fuels.  These pictures are on computer disks and available from the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District.

Sincerely,


Tom Wheeler, President
Coarsegold Resource Conservation District