Ciolek Torrello California Wildfires Power Point Presentation

Wildfires and the Protection and Rehabilitation of Heritage Sites in Southern California

By Richard Ciolek-Torrello and Michael K. Lerch Statistical Research, Inc. Paper Presented at the 12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium—Preservation in Peril New Orleans March 12, 2009

Fire Storm in the San Bernardino Mountains October 2003

Mojave Desert

Transverse Ranges

Peninsular Ranges Coastal Plain

Major Environmental Zones and Mountain Ranges of Southern California

Ranching, Logging and Mining in the San Bernardino Mountains

Holcomb Valley Gold Miners

Federal and State Land Management Agencies

• San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) • California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)

Bedrock mortars, Pan Hot Springs

Historic gold mining town of Belleville (1860-64), Holcomb Valley

Watch tower, Talgatov Fox Farm Pan Hot Springs

Preservation Actions • Inventory and identification • Protection prior to the outbreak of fires • Response to damage by fire and firerelated activities – Evaluation of damage to sites – Stabilization and protection of sites from erosion and recreation

Pan Hot Springs

Balanced Rock Survey • • • • •

Refuse Deposits Historic Roads Mining-related features Habitation sites Prehistoric Camps

Bonita Vista and Garner Valley Fuels Management Area Projects

Site Survey and Recording

Site stabilization following the Willow Fire

Site Evaluation

Monitoring BAER Crews

The “Old Fire” Crosses the Rim of the World Highway

Contingency fire-control line bulldozed through Pan Hot Springs Site

Evaluating damage at the Pan Hot Springs Site

Sierra Ancha Fire Analysis

Sierra Ancha Fire Analysis Study • Prepared regional overview: – To assess potential for presence of fire sensitive heritage resources; – Analyzed records from a total of 798 archaeological sites and 342 archaeological survey and excavation projects encompassing an area of almost 194,000 acres; – Gathered information on hundreds of unrecorded historical period site locations.

• Conducted pedestrian surveys: – To determine presence of fire sensitive resources in targeted areas suggested by overview.

• Conducted GIS-study – To depict confirmed locations of fire sensitive resources and possible locations of other resources

Al Rose Cabin, last surviving structure from the Pleasant Valley War, burned down by lightning strike, August 1998, during Sierra Ancha Fire Analysis study.

CALFIRE Archaeology Program • Identified 166 archaeological sites and 29 historical buildings on properties under CALFIRE jurisdiction; • Developed program to manage and protect these heritage resources; • Provides archaeological training to CAL FIRE staff, Registered Professional Foresters, firefighters, and resource professionals working in the private sector; • Trains staff and contract archaeologists to work with fire fighters to protect heritage resources during fire-fighting activities.

Conclusions • • • • • • •

Collect existing available data to develop detailed and comprehensive overviews of heritage resources; Identify those that are especially sensitive to fire damage; Develop measures to protect fire sensitive resources; Provide locational maps of heritage resources to fire-fighting personnel when incidents occur; Cross-train fire-fighters to recognize and avoid archaeological sites; When damage cannot be avoided, develop measures for evaluation and stabilization; Also, deal with archaeological sites that might be impacted by stabilization or rehabilitation efforts.