WARNING! Everyone within and downstream of burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scars. Flash flooding and debris flows may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be ready to evacuate on short notice. Learn how to prepare at our web page "Post-Wildfire Debris Flows."
Landslide Watch
Post-Wildfire Watershed Emergency Response
California Watershed Emergency Response Teams (WERTs) help communities prepare after wildfire by rapidly documenting and communicating post-fire risks to life and property posed by debris flow, flood, and rock fall hazards. The WERT response is led by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and co-led by the California Geological Survey (Department of Conservation). To learn how the CGS works with CAL FIRE and others to analyze landslide potential on newly burned landscapes, visit the CalConservation blog: Notes from the Field.
Requests for WERT report information should be directed to CAL FIRE. (CAL FIRE by default provides WERT evaluation reports and maps to affected communities, flood control managers, and emergency managers.)
2022 WERT Response
Updated October 21, 2022
In 2022, CAL FIRE and the California Geological Survey deployed WERTs to the following major burns located in state responsibility areas:
Colorado Fire
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Counties Affected: Monterey.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Fairview Fire
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Counties Affected: Riverside.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
McKinney Fire
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Counties Affected: Siskiyou.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Mosquito Fire
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Counties Affected: El Dorado and Placer.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Mountain Fire
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Counties Affected: Siskiyou.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Oak Fire
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Counties Affected: Mariposa.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
2021 WERT Response
Updated October 21, 2022
Enhanced landslide hazards continue to exist in the 2021 wildfire areas. A typical watershed recovery period after fire is two to five years; but in some areas it can take up to ten years as trees die and roots decay. Please keep this in mind and plan accordingly.
Alisal Fire
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Counties Affected: Santa Barbara.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Caldor Fire
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Counties Affected: El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Dixie Fire
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Counties Affected: Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen, and Tehama.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
French Fire
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Counties Affected: Kern.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
2020 WERT Response
Updated October 25, 2021
Enhanced landslide hazards continue to exist in the 2020 wildfire areas. A typical watershed recovery period after fire is two to five years; but in some areas it can take up to ten years as trees die and roots decay. Please keep this in mind and plan accordingly.
Apple and El Dorado Fires
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Counties Affected: Riverside and San Bernardino.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Blue Ridge Fire
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Counties Affected: Orange and Riverside.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Bond and Silverado Fires
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Counties Affected: Orange.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Carmel Fire
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Counties Affected: Monterey.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Creek Fire
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Counties Affected: Fresno and Madera.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
CZU Lightning Complex
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Counties Affected: Santa Cruz and San Mateo.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Glass Fire
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Counties Affected: Sonoma and Napa.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
LNU Lightning Complex - Hennessy Fire
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Counties Affected: Napa, Solano, Yolo, Lake, and Colusa.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
LNU Lightning Complex - Walbridge and Meyers Fires
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Counties Affected: Sonoma.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
North Complex
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Counties Affected: Plumas and Butte.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
River Fire
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Counties Affected: Monterey.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
SCU Lightning Complex
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Counties Affected: Santa Clara, Alameda, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Snow Fire
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Counties Affected: Riverside.
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Map and Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards:
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Additional Information:
Images from the Field
Select any photo to open it full size in a new window.
WERT members prepare to perform aerial reconnaisance of post-fire hazards. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. August 29, 2020.
RIVER FIRE: Burned mountainous terrain above homes in the Pine Canyon area near Salinas, California (Monterey County). These conditions are a concern because of potential for debris flows. Photo credit: Brian Swanson, CGS. August 31, 2020.
CARMEL FIRE: Burned steep slope above Cachagua Road showing extensive dry ravel and associated rockfall hazard in Monterey County, California. Photo credit: Brian Swanson, CGS. August 31, 2020.
RIVER FIRE: Documenting a potential debris flow hazard above a county road. Monterey County, California. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. August 30, 2020.
SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX: Burned hillslopes above Pulse Canyon near San Antonio Valley. Santa Clara County, California. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. September 6, 2020.
RIVER FIRE: A CGS and CAL FIRE team performing ground reconnaisance of post-fire hazards. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. August 29, 2020.
SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX: Potential debris flow hazard on Oak Ridge, near Mount Hamilton. Santa Clara County, California. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. September 5, 2020.
RIVER FIRE: Don Lindsay (CGS) and Brian Mattos (CAL FIRE) assessing the water repellency of burned soil on a hillside. Monterey County, California. Photo credit: Ellie Spangler, CGS. August 29, 2020.
David Longstreth, senior engineering geologist in California Geological Survey’s (CGS) Forest and Watershed Geology program, is one of many in the field studying burn areas in the Santa Cruz area after the CZU Lightning Complex. He is determining risk communities can expect come rainy season:
Watershed Emergency Response Teams
California Watershed Emergency Response Teams (WERTs) help communities prepare after wildfire by rapidly documenting and communicating post-fire risks to life and property posed by debris flow, flood, and rock fall hazards. The WERT response is led by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and co-led by the California Geological Survey (Department of Conservation).
WERT objectives are completed in a rapid step-wise manner to achieve the goal of risk reduction. A fundamental step in the WERT process is the identification and characterization of values-at-risk (VARs). VARs are the values or resources at risk of damage or loss by post-wildfire geologic and/or hydrologic hazards. The WERT process utilizes a qualitative approach to evaluate risk to these values, and relies on a combination of modeling and best professional judgment to guide relative risk determination and the development of emergency protection measures. The final step in risk reduction is to communicate the evaluation findings to local jurisdictions responsible for emergency planning and preparedness.
The decision to conduct a WERT response is made by CAL FIRE in coordination with local and federal agencies, and is also based on:
- Fire size and intensity, and its location in relation to values-at-risk (VARs).
- Proximity of intensely burned areas with steep slopes to housing developments.
- Likelihood of debris flows based on topography, geology, climate, etc. impacting VARs.
- Proximity of VARs to flood and debris flow prone areas affected by the fire.
- Presence of transportation networks, water supply systems, campgrounds, etc. at potentially high risk.
- Fire that includes a significant percentage of state responsibility areas.
Smoke column above the Lake Fire (2020).
Photo credit: Austin Dave.
Web page by:
California Regional Geologic and Landslide Mapping Program
