National Fire Plan Success Story
Fuel Treatment Effects On Wildfires, Cavity Lake Fire
Superior National Forest, Minnesota
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
July 2006
Fire Name: Cavity Lake Fire
Date of Fire: July 2006
Location: Minnesota - Superior National Forest, Region 3
Fuel Treatment Type: Prescribed fire (piles/broadcast); mechanical (thinning), other
Date of Treatment: Starting 2001 and ongoing. The wilderness units were treated in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Effect of the treatment on fire behavior and/or how it facilitated control efforts: Effectively stopped fire progression during “blowup” conditions. Allowed for safe insertion of holding and mop-up crews in otherwise all blowdown fuels.
Values protected by the treatment associated change in fire behavior/more rapid containment of the fire: Using the RAVAR assessment, approximately $39,000,000 (see below).
Cavity Lake - 17 July 2006
RAVAR - Rapid Assessment of Values-at-Risk
Date: 17 July 2006 kh
Analyst: Kevin Hyde (METI) RMRS - Missoula - 406.329.2137
Geographic Basis for Analysis: Coarse analysis: Two zones east of current fire perimeter
Features Analyzed in GIS: Building Clusters derived from Cadastral Parcel Layer (data source: Cook CO, MN, County Tax Assessor’s Office GIS Office with taxable building values per Cook County. Data reported current through mid-June 2006).
Results: Building Clusters* and Estimated Home Replacement Value:
Building Class | Count | Taxable Value |
---|---|---|
Federal | 5 | $430,800 |
Non-Profits | 3 | $1,155,000 |
Resort | 7 | $721,200 |
Residential | 127 | $15,135,000 |
Unknown | 1 | $221,900 |
Total | 143 | $17,663,900 |
Building Class | Count | Taxable Value |
---|---|---|
Commercial | 1 | $276,500 |
Residential | 164 | $20,828,000 |
Total | 165 | $21,104,500 |
* Building Clusters are based upon Cook County Cadastral layer where taxable building value is greater than zero ($0.00). Value estimated to reflect approximately 83 percent of fair market value of structures.