MEEKER | Last week, reporters from the Herald Times had the opportunity to observe suppression repair efforts on both the Lee Fire and the Elk Fire, led by Northern Rockies Team 1, offering a firsthand look at the extensive work required after a wildfire is contained.
Lee Fire: Repairing Firefighting Damage
Freelance reporter Ed Peck toured the Lee Fire, observing crews restoring areas impacted by firefighting operations. Suppression repair focuses on fixing damage caused by dozer and hand lines rather than the fire itself. Crews work to stabilize soils, restore drainage and prevent erosion. Berms are removed to allow water to flow naturally, water bars are installed, and vegetation is redistributed or reseeded as needed.
Peck noted the careful decisions crews make during fire operations. “Every action considers future harm to land and vegetation. Dozer lines are weighed against potential soil erosion, brush is cut just enough for a backfire path, and aircraft drops balance effectiveness with environmental impact,” he said.
Recovery begins even before full containment. Slash piles are chipped and spread carefully to avoid creating insect habitats. Plans for reseeding are already underway to promote native vegetation and suppress invasive weeds, ensuring long-term restoration.
Elk Fire: Community, Cultural and Environmental Considerations
The following day, reporter and photographer Jared Henderson toured the Elk Fire, which is 100% contained. Ross McNearney, a public information officer on both fires, explained the types of suppression repair work currently underway.
“Sometimes when you’re creating dozer lines, you have to push through a fence, and repairing those fences is a big deal,” McNearney said.
He explained the difference between repairing fire effects and suppression repair. “Suppression repair is repairing the impacts from the suppression effort, so not repairing what the fire did,” McNearney said. “When you’re pushing a dozer line, you might blow through a fence, tear out a culvert or peel off topsoil. What we are doing a lot of is bringing that topsoil back to a more stable state.”
On the Lee Fire, Rio Blanco County crews were at work along County Road 5 replacing culverts. On the Elk Fire, repair efforts included two excavators, a chipper, a grader, and a 15-person hand crew. Crews there focused on stabilizing soils, reseeding where needed, repairing fences and other infrastructure, and monitoring potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems and threatened or endangered species.
Resource advisors work to protect cultural and historic sites. “A lot of times they’re from the home unit because they have specific information about the area, but they can also be assigned from anywhere in the country,” McNearney said. “They log any damage that occurs and take note of resources during suppression efforts.”
At repair sites, advisors may find pottery shards, arrowheads and other lithic artifacts. “We’re not out here bringing them to a museum; we want them to stay on the landscape where they belong,” McNearney said. Historic structures, including ranger cabins and recreation residences, are sometimes wrapped in heat-reflective material during the fire and restored afterward.
Some repairs are limited by steep terrain. A member of the management crew explained that some areas cannot accommodate heavy equipment, requiring hand crews to perform similar work. In rocky areas, natural drainage may suffice, though full rehabilitation is not possible.
Community safety remains a priority. McNearney advised residents, “When closure orders are lifted, don’t explore areas with obvious damage. Don’t start making social trails. Dozers travel 50- to 60-degree inclines, and it’s not safe. You could easily get in trouble with a truck or off road vehicle.”
By JARED HENDERSON and ED PECK
