One of the primary roles of government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Since its inception in 1915, Texas A&M Forest Service has been tasked with the responsibility of wildfire suppression, defending both the property and lives of Texas citizens.
In a growing state like Texas, cities, communities and suburbia are expanding into rural areas, and people and
structures are now in proximity to large amounts of vegetation and have an
increased wildfire risk.
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Between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2022, 231,253 wildfires burned more than 12.4 million acres across the state. Most of these wildfires, some 85%, ignited within 2 miles of a community.
Once
primarily a rural concern, wildfires are now a statewide threat that impact communities
across the state and have the potential to damage thousands of homes and other
critical infrastructure.
What is the Texas Wildfire Protection Plan?
The Texas Wildfire Protection Plan (TWPP) has been used and refined over the past two
decades as wildfires and wildfire-related issues continue to impact the state.
The TWPP outlines a tested and proven emergency response model that emphasizes
ongoing analysis, prevention and preparedness followed by a coordinated and
rapid response.
Under the TWPP, Texas A&M Forest Service works to reduce
wildfire occurrence and loss in Texas through integrated programs that improve
preparedness and response capabilities statewide. The practices outlined in
this plan are incorporated into the operational structure of the Forest
Resource Protection Division.
This is a coordinated effort between the seven
departments within the division: Applied Technology, Capacity Building, Field Operations, Law Enforcement, Mitigation and Prevention, Planning and
Preparedness and Predictive Services.
Texas Wildfire Protection Plan, Revised May 2023 - view document
Comments and questions about the Texas Wildfire Protection Plan can be submitted to the following agency contact:
Information Officer
information@tfs.tamu.edu
979-255-0591
+ Texas Wildfire Response
Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response. Local
fire departments and counties are the first responders, with state response
activated as wildfires or conditions exceed local capabilities.
Across the state, there are more than 1,800 local fire departments ready to respond to
wildfires or other emergencies. Texas A&M Forest Service works with local
response entities to establish unified command operations on all wildfires
involving local and state resources.
Texas A&M Forest Service is the lead agency for
wildfire response in the state and maintains a network of strategically placed personnel
and equipment for an efficient and effective response statewide. The agency is
responsible for ensuring the safe and effective delivery of the mission to
provide protection of the lives, property and resources of the citizens of
Texas.
Adding to the efforts of Texas A&M Forest Service,
additional firefighters are mobilized through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual
Aid System (TIFMAS) to help. TIFMAS resources are mobilized under jurisdiction
of the state to respond to wildfire incidents across the state.
As the complexity of statewide wildfire response
continues to increase, wildland firefighters from across the nation are brought
in, under state jurisdiction, to meet essential needs. This is supported by a
set of agreements that Texas A&M Forest Service maintains with federal
wildland fire agencies.
+ The Texas Wildfire Protection Plan
The Texas Wildfire Protection Plan (TWPP) describes how
Texas A&M Forest Service will mitigate against, prepare for and respond to
wildfires and other disasters across the state.
Initially drafted following the 1998 wildfire season, the
TWPP defines Texas A&M Forest Service’s emergency management organization.
The plan also identifies responsibilities and expectations in the agency’s
efforts to prevent and mitigate wildfires, manage statewide wildfire operations
and provide all-hazard emergency response support.
While comprehensive, the TWPP provides flexibility to
facilitate and accomplish emergency management objectives.