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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:

ZONE A - Within 1.5 miles of 7/17 0830h perimeter
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
ZONE B - Within 4.5 miles of 7/17 0830h perimeter
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.