ISSN: 0090-3973
Published Online: 27 March 2007
Page Count: 4

Missionary Ridge Fire Cost Assessment
Mackes, Kurt H.
Assistant Professor, Professor Emeritus, and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University,

Lynch, Dennis L.
Assistant Professor, Professor Emeritus, and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University,

Kelly, Stephen K.
Natural Resource Consulting, CO

Eckhoff, Mike
Assistant Professor, Professor Emeritus, and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University,

(Received 11 October 2005; accepted 6 July 2006)

Abstract

Capturing the true cost of wildland fire events is critical for providing a sound basis for public policy. Recently, Lynch [1] suggested additional factors to consider in addition to suppression costs as a means for gaging a fire’s total cost. In this study a similar evaluation was done for the second largest fire in Colorado during the 2002 wildland fire season. The Missionary Ridge fire burned 70 475 acres of land in southwestern Colorado in June and July of 2002. Costs associated with the fire were analyzed and separated into three categories: (1) direct costs, (2) rehabilitation costs, and (3) impact costs. Direct costs during the fire were $90 276 323, rehabilitation costs totaled $8 732 608, and impact costs that occurred after fire containment through 2003 amounted to $50 499 849. Impact costs were still accruing at the time this study was completed. In addition, special values were also considered, including the death of a firefighter, wilderness acreage burned, and loss of sensitive species habitat. These costs were estimated to be $3 404 410. The total cost of the fire to date was estimated at $152 803 785 or more than $2168 per acre.

Keywords:
Missionary Ridge Fire, fire costs

Paper ID: JTE100044
DOI: 10.1520/JTE100044
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