Preparing for Wildfires | Fire Department Programs

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRES

Prevent Wildfires

+Prepare for Wildfire

+Wildland Urban Interface

-Fire Department Programs

+Planning & Preparation

Local firefighters are our first line of defense against disasters. Texas A&M Forest Service capacity building programs have awarded over $238 million in grants to Texas fire departments including training for 72,695 firefighters. Learn more about how these programs are working to build the capacity of the Texas fire service by visiting the link below to view a short video.

Eligible fire departments can receive valuable assistance through programs offered by the Capacity Building Department. These programs enhance the ability of firefighters to protect themselves and the public from fire and related hazards.
We are proud to serve Texas fire departments and encourage participation in our many programs.
Submit Questions, Comments, or Recommendations
+ Volunteer

The primary goal of the VFD Assistance Programs is to enhance the emergency response capabilities of volunteer and combination fire departments with 20 or fewer paid members.

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+ Career

Career fire department assistance programs enhance the emergency response capabilities of fully paid and combination departments with 21 or more paid members.

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+ Wildfire & Incident Management Training

Texas A&M Forest Service provides nationally accredited wildfire and emergency management training throughout Texas to local, state and federal organizations. Training opportunities are offered that accommodate as few as one firefighter to an entire host organization or to multiple organizations. TFS training is coordinated by the Incident Response Department Training Section and delivered by qualified and experienced TFS staff.

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+ Connect with your Local Field Representative

TFS Regional Fire Coordinators
+ Quicklinks
Fire Department Directory (FDD)

The Fire Department Directory Web application provides users with a comprehensive listing of fire departments and their resources within the state of Texas. It provides fire departments with the opportunity to submit fire reports, and the ability to follow activity within the fire department assistance programs.
Primary Protection Area Reporting
Burn Ban Flags Available for Purchase
NIMS Adoption / Compliance
USFA/FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS)
Texas Interagency Coordination Center (TICC)
TFS Regional Fire Coordinators (RFC)
Attack From the Black Training Video
Death and Disability Benefits for Firefighters
Advisory Councils
Roscommon Equipment Center
State Firemen's & Fire Marshals' Association of Texas
Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Engineering Extension Service
Texas Secretary of State
United States Department of Agriculture (Rural Development)
Texas Facility Commission

RELATED INFORMATION

PREVENT WILDFIRES

TEXAS BURN BANS

FIRE DANGER

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

Research reinforces what much of the forestry community already knows — that trees have a positive impact on human health. Learn more.

Help us celebrate Smokey Bear's 75th birthday with a Texas Smokey Bear license plate available now for your vehicle, RV, motorcycle or trailer. For only $30, you can help us protect communities from wildfires!

DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD

Protect Texas land and forests from invasive insects and disease. Obtain your holiday firewood from local sources or a trusted vendor close to home. Diseased firewood may carry invasive pests and threaten our native trees and forests.

NEWSROOM

Suspect arrested for timber theft in Harrison County
Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigators made an arrest Thursday afternoon in a timber theft case in Harrison County. Agency investigators arrested Edward Tom Williams, 59, of Longview on a warrant for Theft of Property valued between $2,500 and $30,000. Williams was released on a $10,000 bond.

BMP Implementation Monitoring Update
Overall BMP implementation has remained steady the last several years; this past round being just below the record levels set in Round 8 (94.1%). Most impressive is the considerable progress demonstrated by family forest owners since monitoring began in the early 1990s.

Fire Danger Alert
High impact fire weather will develop Wednesday over the Western third of Texas due to a strong storm system moving into the Plains states. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued an alert putting western portions of the state in the “critical” and “elevated” categories for wildfire potential.

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

Research reinforces what much of the forestry community already knows — that trees have a positive impact on human health. Learn more.

SMOKEY BEAR LICENSE PLATE

DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD

NEWSROOM

4/11/2019 5:25:00 PM
Suspect arrested for timber theft in Harrison County
Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigators made an arrest Thursday afternoon in a timber theft case in Harrison County. Agency investigators arrested Edward Tom Williams, 59, of Longview on a warrant for Theft of Property valued between $2,500 and $30,000. Williams was released on a $10,000 bond.

4/10/2019 3:20:00 PM
BMP Implementation Monitoring Update
Overall BMP implementation has remained steady the last several years; this past round being just below the record levels set in Round 8 (94.1%). Most impressive is the considerable progress demonstrated by family forest owners since monitoring began in the early 1990s.

4/8/2019 3:55:00 PM
Fire Danger Alert
High impact fire weather will develop Wednesday over the Western third of Texas due to a strong storm system moving into the Plains states. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued an alert putting western portions of the state in the “critical” and “elevated” categories for wildfire potential.

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

SMOKEY BEAR LICENSE PLATE

DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD

NEWSROOM

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

SMOKEY BEAR LICENSE PLATE

DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD

TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE

TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE