June 27, 2024 — As Texans make plans to celebrate the Fourth of July, Texas A&M Forest Service encourages everyone to be careful with any outdoor activity that may cause a spark.
Approximately 90% of wildfires are caused by humans and their activities, and the Fourth of July is one of the top days for reported wildfires.
April 30, 2024 - It doesn’t matter where you are, the forest is with you. May the Forest Be with You, Always is this year’s Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week theme and Texas A&M Forest Service encourages all to appreciate the trees, and their abundant benefits, around them.
You don’t have to stand in the middle of the woods to be surrounded by the forest. The home you live in, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the books you read – they all come from trees growing in Texas.
March 11, 2024 - Thousands across the Texas Panhandle received wireless emergency alerts Feb. 26 and 27, warning of an eminent, dangerous wildfire on the landscape with the potential to expand. These notifications utilized a first-of-its-kind process, benefiting from major advancements in fire and weather prediction technology and a foundation in strong inter-agency relationships.
December 14, 2023 - Texas A&M Forest Service presented a check for $22,389 to the Association of Former Students today. The funds are from timber sustainably managed and sold on the John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest.
December 12, 2023 - It’s time for Texans to brace for cedar fever season once again, complete with runny noses, itchy eyes and general misery. Cedar fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by mountain cedar trees, and unfortunately, you don’t have to be allergic to the pollen for it to affect you.
In Texas, the predominant species of mountain cedar is Ashe juniper, making cedar fever especially irritating in the Hill Country west of I-35 where there are primarily juniper trees mixed in with oaks and a few other species.
August 22, 2023 - On Friday, a helicopter delivering water to the 150-acre Barth Fire in Caldwell County almost collided with a drone that came within feet of the aircraft.
Drones are a serious safety hazard for both the aviation resources as well as the firefighters on the ground and can cause a serious or fatal accident if they collide with firefighting aircraft.
August 9, 2023 — Texas A&M Forest Service encourages Texans to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 79th birthday today by being extremely cautious with all outdoor activities that create heat or sparks.
August 8, 2023 — Texas A&M Forest Service has raised the State Wildfire Preparedness Level to Level 4 due to the recent increase in wildfire activity across the state and the growing potential for wildfires to become more severe, making them harder to control.
“The decision to move to a Preparedness Level 4 indicates that the complexity of wildfires across Texas is increasing to where they require more time, personnel and equipment to contain and put out,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief.
July 26, 2023 - As persistent triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions increase wildfire danger for much of the state, Texas A&M Forest Service urges Texans to be cautious with outdoor activities that create sparks.
Through Friday, high temperatures and increased wind speeds will support the potential for large wildfires that may be resistant to firefighters’ suppression efforts.