Impacts of Post-Fire Debris Flows on Communities

Learn how debris flows caused by wildfires can have a devastating impact on communities, and what can be done to mitigate the risks with expert guidance from the WFCA.

Published:March 27, 2023
Edited:
March 1, 2024

Table of Contents

    Learn how debris flows caused by wildfires can have a devastating impact on communities, and what can be done to mitigate the risks with expert guidance from the WFCA.

    The immediate impact of a wildfire is clear: smoky air, burned forests, and possibly property damage. There are also long-term effects on the area impacted by fire, including a higher risk of flash flooding and landslides. Communities throughout the western United States are developing strategies to mitigate destructive debris flows in areas that have been affected by a fire. Consider risk in your area and learn the best way to respond to flash floods and mudslides that may occur after a wildfire.

    What is a Post-Fire Debris Flow?

    Wildfires burn away low vegetation and trees, clearing large swathes of land. This leads to an increased risk of flooding, landslides, and mudflows in areas affected by a fire. The resulting shift of soil, rocks, mud, and water, which is usually triggered by intense rainfall, is called a post-fire debris flow.1

    Debris flows are fast-moving and can cause human fatalities in addition to damaging property. They can travel greater distances than landslides, move faster, and carry anything in their path, from boulders to cars.

    Why are Debris Flows More Likely After a Fire?

    When soil is exposed, it is vulnerable to erosion. In addition to clearing large areas, wildfires can destroy root systems that were holding dirt and rocks in place. After a fire, communities, buildings, and roads that are in or near canyons, at the base of steep hillsides, or excavated hills are at serious risk for post-fire debris flows.2

    The aftermath of burned vegetation and forest floor debris can also produce water-repellent soils, known as hydrophobic soil conditions. These water-repellant soils cause intense runoff, more than doubling the rate at that water will flow into streams or water channels.3 This creates a flash flood risk, and a risk of landslides and mudslides.

    How are Debris Flows Evaluated?

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assesses post-fire debris flow hazard conditions after major fires in the Western United States. They have an online map that notes post-fire debris flow risk locations. After a fire, national, state, or local teams take the following steps to address debris flow hazards:

    Assess Risks in the Area

    The USGS uses geospatial data related to historical debris flows in specific basins to assess the likelihood and severity of a post-burn debris flow in that area. This estimate considers the shape of the land, severity of the fire, soil properties, and rainfall characteristics.4

    Local geologists and hydrologists may also assist communities impacted by wildfires. They utilize aerial imagery and satellite data, geological surveys, hydrologic and debris flow models, and in-person observations to assess site-specific conditions. They consider local geology, soils, climate, and topography to develop a debris flow hazard assessment and mitigation plan.3

    Establish Monitoring

    While it is impossible to stop a debris flow, there are tools to give advanced warning of a flood or landslide. Automated cameras may be installed to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flows in specific areas.1

    Mitigate Short-term Risks

    Emergency response teams may address risks that can be mitigated within 3 months of a fire, such as developing action plans, gathering resources like sandbags, notifying community members of emergency measures, and clearing drainage areas.5

    Mitigate Long-term Risks

    Post-fire flash flooding and debris flow risks remain for several years after the fire. An example of appropriate caution is the response to the Eagle Creek Fire, which consumed nearly 49,000 acres in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge between Sept. 2 – Nov. 30, 2017.

    The Columbia River Gorge is made up of steep cliffs, forested areas, hydroelectric dams, and major transportation lines. It receives over 100 inches of precipitation annually and was already at risk of landslides, with over 80 landslides recorded in the 20th century. After the Eagle Creek Fire, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the USGS participated in the creation of a post-fire landslide response plan and hazard map to address potential post-fire debris flow and flood emergencies.6 While no major landslides have occurred as of early 2023, some portions of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area remain closed for parts of the year.7

    Debris Flow Can be Delayed              

    Some of the largest landslides can happen during the first rainy season after a fire. Preparing for potential debris flows is important because they can occur with little warning, and flash floods and landslides may continue for several years in a burned area. It takes much less rainfall to trigger a debris flow in an area that has been burned—some debris flows have begun after as little as 0.3 inches of rain in half an hour.1

    The Milli Fire took place in Deschutes County, OR, and burned over 24,000 acres between Aug. 11 – Sept. 24, 2017. Almost a year later, on June 20, 2019, a debris flow began on the edge of the burned Black Crater volcano. No property was damaged and there were no casualties, but the flow sped down the sharp incline near the crater rim for 1.5km.8

    Piled cars in muddy water. To prepare for debris flow: stay aware, travel carefully, avoid water & changing water levels, find high ground.
    The best way to keep yourself and loved ones safe from a debris flow is to stay alert and to leave the area immediately if a debris flow is likely or imminent.

    How Have Debris Flows Affected Communities?

    While post-fire debris flows are documented throughout the western United States, Southern California is particularly at risk.1 The number and intensity of wildfires are rising in California, and the state’s mountainous terrain is ideal for debris flows. There is also a growing wildland-urban interface as humans continue to expand cities and suburbs. This leads to a growing risk to human life and property from wildfires and post-fire debris flows. A 2021 study funded by the USGS Landslide Hazard Program projects that postfire debris flows will occur annually in southern California, with the risk to property rising as rainfall intensity increases.9

    One recent example of post-fire debris flow devastation is the aftermath of the Thomas Fire. The fire began on December 4, 2017, and burned nearly 282,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties before it was contained on January 12, 2018.10 On Jan. 9, 2018, the nearby town of Montecito, CA, was hit with massive mudslides in the early morning hours. The post-fire debris flow came from the still-smoldering Santa Ynez Mountains. A short downpour had overflowed uphill creeks and basins. A flow of mud up to 15 feet deep moved boulders the size of houses down the slope. It swept over 3km of residential properties. A total of 23 people died in this destructive debris flow, with at least 167 injured and 408 properties damaged.11

    The south coast of California is prone to debris flows, with most of the major events in the past 200 years (some described as tidal waves of boulders, trees, and water) occurring five years after a wildfire took place in the mountains. There are various mitigation projects underway in the Transverse Mountain Ranges of Southern California, including expanding overflow basins near creeks for rainfall drainage and to capture debris, and installing nets to catch debris above existing basins.12

    How to Prepare for a Debris Flow

    As wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity across the western USA, this region is also increasingly at risk of runoff-initiated debris flows. Take precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from this type of disaster.

    • Be informed. Tune in to radio, TV, or local news on your phone after a fire. The National Weather Service will issue a flood warning if rainfall is expected to be intense. Prepare to evacuate immediately if told to do so.
    • Though it is unlikely for post-fire debris flows to occur beyond the second rainy season after a fire, stay cautious for 2-5 years.1 It takes heavy rainfall (at least half an inch per hour) on a recently burned slope to start a debris flow, but still, prepare to evacuate during major thunderstorms. While it may only be a light shower in your area, nearby mountains can have heavier rainfall.
    • Travel cautiously after a fire. Assume highways are not safe and avoid driving in areas downhill of a recent fire, especially at night.
    • Don’t walk, drive, or bike in a flooded area. Water depth can increase rapidly, and even a few inches of water can hide dangerous currents or tripping hazards. A foot of water can carry away most cars.13
    • If you are near water, watch for sudden increases or decreases in the water flowing, or for muddied water. These are signs that the flow has been affected upstream. Immediately leave the area; a debris flow may be approaching.
    • If you must shelter in place, locate the highest point near you (e.g., a second-story room, the roof). Be ready to get there quickly. Watch for rushing and murky water. Listen for unusual sounds such as cracking, breaking, or roaring.13
    • Sign up for emergency alerts from national emergency agencies, such as FEMA, and your state or county emergency agencies.

    Sources

    1. U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, “Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow Active.” Accessed March 3, 2023.
    2. State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, “Debris Flow & Landslide Warnings.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    3. Washington Department of Natural Resources, “Wildfire-Associated Debris Flows.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    4. U.S. Geological Survey, “Emergency Assessment of Post-Fire Debris-Flow Hazards.” Accessed March 3, 2023.
    5. US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, “Flood After Fire.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    6. Mines Repository, “Post-fire rockfall and debris-flow hazard zonation in the Eagle Creek fire burn area, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: a tool for emergency managers and first responders.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    7. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, “Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Alerts & Notices.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    8. U.S. Geological Survey, “Runoff-initiated post-fire debris flow Western Cascades, Oregon.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    9. AGU, “Forecasting the Frequency and Magnitude of Postfire Debris Flows Across Southern California.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    10. Ventura County Fire Department, “VCFD determines cause of the Thomas Fire.” Accessed March 8, 2023.
    11. GeoScienceWorld, “Inundation, flow dynamics, and damage in the 9 January 2018 Montecito debris-flow event, California, USA: Opportunities and challenges for post-wildfire risk assessment.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    12. KEYT, “The January 9, 2018 mudslide was not so rare.” Accessed March 7, 2023.
    13. California Department of Conservation, “Post-Fire Debris Flow Facts.” Accessed March 3, 2023.

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