Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is the planned application of low-intensity fire to the landscape by fire and fuel specialists to maintain healthy, resilient landscapes.  Prescribed fires utilize strategic plans in accordance with applicable laws, policies and regulations to meet specific land management objectives.
Female firefighter holding a drip tourch in front of fire
  • We and our partners hold an annual Prescribed Burn Manager Training each spring (May/June) in the Lufkin, Texas, area. Students who pass the final exam will meet the education requirements for becoming a TDA Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager in region 4 (East Texas).   The course is open to the public, but pre-registration is […]
  • Preparation Prescribed fires are thoroughly planned and have a clear goal. These factors and others are included in a burn plan.   Burn plans are created by a burn manager before a prescribed fire. They account for the parameter of the fire, smoke management instructions, weather, hazards, contingencies, vegetation and surface information, and more.   In preparation […]
  • Fire is a normal, natural, and essential process in the Texas landscape, and has been used for centuries, even before European settlement. Prescribed fire is important for sustainable ecosystems today as it is one of the most effective, cost-efficient land management tools.   Conducting a prescribed burn can produce a host of ecosystem and fire mitigation […]
  • Use the map to determine your eligibility for a prescribed fire grant.
  • Purpose The goal is to protect high-risk communities and aid in ecosystem restoration by utilizing prescribed fire to consume excess vegetation before it contributes to catastrophic wildfire.    Practices Prescribed burning and implementation of fuels breaks via dozers, maintainers or plows.  Eligibility Texas private landowners within communities located in the Panhandle, Northwest, West and South Texas  […]
  • Purpose To help reduce high-risk fuels on private and non-federal public lands using prescribed burning to protect communities and aid ecosystem restoration.  Practices Prescribed burning and implementation of fuels breaks via dozers, maintainers, or plows. Eligibility Landowners in 20 East Texas counties that contain concentrations of federal lands, have a high social vulnerability index rating, […]
  • Purpose To protect high-risk communities and associated forest resources by reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire on private and public lands.   Practices Prescribed burning and implementation of fuels breaks via dozers, maintainers, or plows.  Eligibility Landowners within 10 miles of a National Forest boundary in Texas. These U.S. Forest Service lands include the Sam Houston, […]
  • By law, you are required to notify Texas A&M Forest Service prior to conducting any prescribed burning for forest management purposes.   We encourage anyone statewide to notify an agency dispatch office prior to any prescribed burning.  To make notification on the day of your burn, download the Rx Burn Notification Form and email to [email protected].  There […]
  • We promote the use of safe and effective prescribed fire on public and private land in Texas. We encourage you to report burn activities using the Texas Prescribed Burn Reporting System to help fire managers monitor land and forest conditions as well as quantify fuel across the state.     This voluntary survey provides our agency and […]
  • Before putting fire on the ground, fire managers complete a GO/NO-GO Checklist.   The person responsible for conducting the burn has the responsibility to complete and sign the checklist before the burn. The checklist indicates that all necessary steps and notifications are complete, and that the treatment will be implemented within the planned prescription.   The resources […]
  • A prescribed fire burn plan is required for each burn. The plan is prepared by qualified personnel conducting the burn and includes criteria for the conditions under which the fire will be conducted—a prescription.  Below leads you through each element of a prescribed burn plan with links to instructions and useful information when preparing and […]
  • Texas A&M Forest Service and prescribed fire  We conduct prescribed fires on State Forests and state lands to reduce hazardous fuels. This protects surrounding communities and provides wildland training opportunities for local cooperators like fire departments and natural resource agencies.   Our prescribed burn managers hold NWCG Prescribed Burn Boss Type 2 qualifications, and all […]