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  • NEWSROOM: TFS TO OFFER $17,500 IN GRANT FUNDS FOR TEXAS HIGH PLAINS VEGETATIVE FUEL BREAKS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    October 10, 2019

    Texas A&M Forest Service to offer $17,500 in grant funds for Texas high plains vegetative fuel breaks

    College Station, Texas – Landowners in the high plains region of Texas may be eligible for funding that would assist in the creation of vegetative fuel breaks on private lands.

    Through Dec. 20, 2019, Texas A&M Forest Service will be accepting grant applications. The agency will reimburse each grant recipient up to $2,500 for the costs associated with trees, weed barriers, planting contractors, drip irrigation systems, among others, to create vegetative fuel breaks.

    “This grant is intended to help protect communities in the high plains by reducing the risks of catastrophic wildfire events on both public and private lands,” said Logan Scherschel, Texas A&M Forest Service Wildland Urban Interface Specialist. “Our hope is that landowners will apply for this grant and then construct vegetative fuel breaks on their property ahead of fire season.”

    Vegetative fuel breaks are trees and shrubs that are systematically planted adjacent to fields, homesteads, or feedlots to reduce or redirect the wind. As a result, the fuel breaks can impact wind-driven fire behavior in a way that will allow time for residents to evacuate before the fire impacts nearby homes or structures.

    Fuel breaks eligible for the grant funds will consist of a minimum of 3 rows of trees and at least 400 feet in length.

    “Once grant applications have been submitted, the selection process for recipients will begin immediately after the Dec. 20 deadline,” said Scherschel. “As always, Texas A&M Forest Service will be happy to answer any questions landowners have regarding the application process or how a vegetative fuel break can mitigate the risk of property damage caused by wildfires.”

    All landowners who apply for the $2,500 grant will be notified of a decision no later than Jan. 31, 2020. Texas A&M Forest Service does not conduct the actual planting and installation of the vegetative fuel break, but will provide technical assistance to applicants. If an application is approved, Texas A&M Forest Service will then further discuss the project details with the recipient prior to planting and a follow-up inspection once the project is complete.

    Landowners interested in the grant can visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/CommunitiesinAction/ for a copy of the application.

    Application packages must be mailed to:

    Texas A&M Forest Service

    Mitigation & Prevention Department

    15110 Jones Maltsberger STE 101

    San Antonio, Texas 78247

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    Contacts:

    Logan Scherschel, Wildland Urban Interface Specialist, Texas A&M Forest Service, 210-556-9374, lscherschel@tfs.tamu.edu

    Jonathan Motsinger, Program Leader, Texas A&M Forest Service, 806-892-3572, jmotsinger@tfs.tamu.edu

    Texas A&M Forest Service Communications Office, 979-204-3202, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu
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