October 6, 2022 – The 24th annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy (CAIWA) begins at the Camp Swift National Guard Facility in Bastrop, Texas this week. The academy will take place October 7-19, 2022.
March 11, 2021 - (Flyer) - Oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, killing millions of trees in 76 counties of Central, North and West Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service urges Texans to help stop the spread of oak wilt by avoiding pruning or wounding oak trees from February through June.
January 5, 2021 - Forestry officials from Texas A&M Forest Service have scheduled demolition for buildings and facilities remaining at the agency’s vacated Lufkin location on S First Street.
Demolition is scheduled beginning the week of January 4, 2021 and is expected to be completed within two months after the start date.
December 22, 2020 - Increased wildfire potential is expected across much of the state early this week due to approaching dry cold fronts and high temperatures. Dry fuel conditions will expand north from the southern Hill Country into the Rolling Plains, southern High Plains, eastern Hill Country and Cross Timbers regions this week, aligning with the pre- and post-frontal winds to create an increase in potential wildfire activity.
November 10, 2020 - In a year of firsts, Texas A&M Forest Service held the agency’s annual personnel meeting virtually. Spanning statewide, agency employees gathered together through space and time to recognize the past year’s agency accomplishments, employee achievements and to set the tone for the coming year.
October 27, 2020 - With hunting season underway, many hunters and campers across the state are headed to the wild outdoors. This greater movement of people into wildland areas increases the potential for human-caused wildfires to start.
People and their activities cause more than 90 percent of wildfires in Texas, increasing the need for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to use caution outdoors and be mindful of activities that may cause a wildfire.
September 29, 2020 - Texas A&M Forest Service is now accepting grant applications through September 30, 2020 to offset the cost of prescribed burning on private lands for Central and East Texas landowners.
$488,715 in grant funds are available for eligible landowners having prescribed burns conducted on their property by certified and insured prescribed burn managers. Last year, the programs provided $353,916 to landowners for a total of 13,100 acres of treatments.
August 27, 2020 - The return of widespread triple digit temperatures Friday through Sunday will increase the rate of drying in vegetation, resulting in increased risk of wildland fire occurrence. Minimal rainfall from Hurricane Laura was observed west of Interstate 35 where critically dry fuels are present.
July 16, 2020 - Today, the State of Texas and USDA Forest Service signed a historic agreement that formalizes the framework for a collaborative response between state and federal agencies responding to wildfires, natural resource concerns and ecological challenges in Texas.
The Shared Stewardship Agreement was signed into effect at the Texas State Capitol by Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Texas is the 15th state to implement a Shared Stewardship response framework.
May 29, 2020 - The presence of the deadly emerald ash borer (EAB) was confirmed May 19, 2020 in Denton and Bowie Counties. EAB has infested and killed ash trees in both counties, soon adding them to the list of Texas jurisdictions to be placed under the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) wood transportation quarantine on EAB.