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Texas A&M Forest Service law enforcement investigators arrested James Michael “Mike” Bennett of Cleveland, Texas for Timber Purchase as a Trustee with Intent to Defraud on Feb. 13, 2020 in Montgomery County. Bennett, 55, was charged with a state jail felony as the timber was valued between $500 and $20,000.

Troy Lee Grice, 48, of Groveton, Texas was arrested Feb. 16, 2020 in Cherokee County for Timber Purchase as a Trustee with Intent to Defraud. The timber is valued between $100,000 and $200,000, making the crime a second degree felony.

Texas A&M Forest Service, in cooperation with the Texas Army National Guard, plans to conduct a 3,700-acre prescribed burn at Camp Bowie Feb. 25 through 28. Texas A&M Forest Service has been monitoring weather conditions and has scheduled the burn when the weather and fuel conditions meet the prescription.

Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department recently had a big check presentation to commemorate the addition of a 2019 water tender. Those attending the event included State Representative James White, Polk County Commissioner Bob Willis, Polk County EMC Courtney Comstock, Fire Chief Donald Marlow, members of the Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department and representatives of Texas […]

Bon Wier Volunteer Fire Department accepted a 2005 firefighting apparatusoffered through the Helping Hands Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. “It is good to have a dependable truck that will hold 750-gallons of water and can carry up to eightfirefighter,” said Bon Wier VFD Assistant Chief Sean Mills. The truck will primarily be used […]

Texans are using prescribed fire more than ever to manage land and mitigate wildfires. Now there is data to support this. A recent statewide survey found that 402,017 acres were treated with prescribed fire in Texas during 2018.

Foresters in East Texas help landowners develop forest management plans to sustainably manage their forestland.  I created this animation to visualize the impact of their work over the last 10 years. We have an internal tracking system to keep information on all the management plans our foresters create.  This includes spatial data, which I pulled from the […]

Tax season is fast approaching and forest landowners may want to refresh their knowledge of timber tax laws.

KILLEEN, Texas  Southwest Bell County Volunteer Fire Department received a $20,000 cost-sharegrant to purchase a slip-on unit that will help update the department’s five-ton military truckconversion. The grant was through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Programadministered by Texas A&M Forest Service. The slip-on unit was built to the department’s specifications, improving water availability. […]

BRENHAM, Texas – Berlin, Mill-Creek, Zionsville Volunteer Fire Department converted a Stewart and Stevenson’s excess military vehicle into a firefighting machine thanks to a $20,000 grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. “This dual-purpose apparatus will not only increase our on-the-scene water capacity but because of its […]