Sayre Report - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California

D. Threats to Cultural Resources
As a result of the fire and the impacts from the loss of vegetation and burn severity
evaluation of watersheds natural and cultural resources are at an increased risk to the
threat of flooding, rockfall, debris torrents, mud sliding and debris flows. Additionally,
there is an increased risk of the exposure of cultural sites as a result of the fire or the
associated suppression activities removing protective vegetative cover. Since the BART
did not have an archeologist available for the field assessment team. Therefore, it is
highly recommended that local administrators seek additional assistance to evaluate
threats to cultural and prehistoric archaeological resources. In addition, it is
recommended that an archaeologists work with the City and County of Los Angeles to
develop avoidance mitigation measures to prevent harm to these valuable resources.
Furthermore, reference should be made to the Angeles National Forest’s Burned Area
Emergency Response Team’s (BAER’s) Cultural Specialist Report to assist in
identifying these resources in the region. The risk from the fire is greatest to those
cultural sites that have been exposed as a result of the fire or the associated
suppression activities that could be vandalized or otherwise compromised.
E. Soil Burn Severity
Soil burn severity is the amount of heat that is released by a fire and how it affects other
resources. Soil Burn Severity on the Sayre Fire has been determined to be as follows:
High: 2% 225 acres
Moderate: 60% 6757 acres
Low: to unburned 38% 4279 acres
F. Public Assistance
The areas of interest with regards to Public Assistance are relatively confined to the
debris basins, dams, mud flow protective measures, Olive View Hospital and damage to
the Pacoima Dam. Also, any potential emergency protective measures that were put in
place by the various City and County agencies within the 1810 DR incident period of 11-
10-08 to 11-28-08.
Summary
The fire and the resultant impact to the VARs previously discussed have an increase
risk for storm events to result in flooding, rockfall, debris torrents, mudsliding and debris
flows. As storm intensity or duration rises, there will be an associated increased
elevation in risk for the storm event to trigger flooding, mud sliding, debris torrents,
debris flows, and sedimentation. The threat posed by flooding, mud sliding, debris
torrents, and debris flows includes the loss of life and property. All imminent VARs
identified herein could be adversely affected. In the cases mentioned where VARs are
high, it is imperative to take precautionary actions to protect life and property,
particularly with the approaching winter storms.