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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What Texas lawmakers did after the state's largest wildfire
LUBBOCK — Texas lawmakers approved a series of bills this year that aim to better prepare Texas for wildfires and to mitigate their damage. The legislation includes a study on wildfire risk zones, increasing funding for rural volunteer fire departments, and creating a statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is accessible to all fire departments in Texas. The legislative package was inspired by the state's largest wildfire in history. The Smokehouse Creek fire scorched more than 1 million acres in the Panhandle and killed three people. A special House committee was formed following the fires to investigate the cause and make legislative recommendations. Senate Bill 34, filed by state Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, is the most sweeping proposal. It includes a study on fuel loads, which is material that is likely to catch fire in a specific area, such as dry grass or vegetation. The study would also establish wildfire risk zones for residents, homes and businesses. The bill also creates a statewide database of firefighting equipment and increases funding to volunteer fire departments in areas at high risk for large wildfires. Rep. Ken King, a Republican who lives in Canadian where much of the damage from the wildfires took place, co-sponsored the bill. King led the House committee that investigated the fires and later released a detailed report about the disaster. 'We took a lot of testimony, and a lot of work went on to do what's right for our volunteer firefighters,' King said. 'Senate Bill 34 combines several volunteer firefighter priorities.' The bill requires that at least 10% of the money in the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance program go to volunteer fire departments in areas at high risk for large wildfires. Texas A&M Forest Service and West Texas A&M University will launch a study to determine wildfire risk zones based on fuel loads of flammable material like vegetation. Most of the wildfires that burned through the Panhandle started when power lines came into contact with dry vegetation. The Smokehouse Creek fire started when a rotten utility pole snapped and the power lines landed on dry grass. The bill requires that researchers consider several factors when determining these risk zones, including the projected loss of life, property and natural resources should a wildfire occur in the zone and the financial impact of costs associated with recovering after a wildfire. This study is due by Dec. 1, 2026, and would be submitted to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the Legislature. 'Constant wildfire threats that require preparation, coordination, and resources is the most pressing issue for the Panhandle,' Sparks said in a previous statement. Another recommendation from the House committee report was the statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is available during a wildfire. According to the report, there was an uncoordinated response between responding agencies during the Panhandle fires, and a lack of knowledge about what equipment agencies had and what was needed. Texas A&M Forest Service, the state agency that manages Texas' forests and natural resources, will operate and maintain the database. Fire departments will be able to see equipment descriptions, search by location and equipment types, and have contact information for fire departments listed in the database. Volunteer stations will also have access to the inventory. One of King's bills also addresses what he and other lawmakers have deemed a regulatory 'no man's land,' as state agencies lacked the authority to inspect power lines at oilfield well sites and facilities. Lawmakers identified this as a problem after the investigative committee concluded that unmaintained electrical lines for oilfield equipment started the Smokehouse Creek Fire and others in that same week. Data from the Forest Service shows power lines have caused roughly 60% of fires throughout the Panhandle since 2006. Under King's bill, the Railroad Commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry, will notify the Public Utility Commission when it identifies substandard power lines at well sites or at other facilities used for oil and gas production. The notification must include a description of the condition and whether the well is abandoned. The Railroad Commission must also notify the landowner. The two agencies will then work together to request that a state fire marshal or local authority to inspect the site, and request that the electric service provider disconnect service. While the Legislature made a lot of progress toward improving the state's response to wildfires, one bill that failed to pass would have created a statewide network to connect all first responders and state agencies. House Bill 13, by King, sought to create the Texas Interoperability Council, which would be tasked with the implementation of a statewide plan for emergency communication use. The proposal was praised by first responders during the legislative process. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd testified to lawmakers in March that it was the 'boldest move' he's seen in his career. That bill passed the House in April, but was not taken up by the Senate. Disclosure: Texas A&M University and West Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wildfire preparation bill wins preliminary approval in Texas House
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – The Texas House gave preliminary approval to legislation that aims to better prepare the state for wildfires. The bill is one of several measures filed after the 2024 Panhandle wildfires, which burned more than one million acres. Senate Bill 34 would create a database of firefighting equipment that is available for use in responding to wildfires. The goal is to have a better idea of what resources are available during emergencies. The Texas A&M Forest Service would create and maintain the database. The legislation also calls for appointing an Interoperability Council to develop a strategic plan to improve 'emergency communication equipment interoperability betwen local, state, and federal agencies.' The proposal comes after a Texas House of Representatives report on the handling of the 2024 Panhandle wildfires. The report said 'although volunteer firefighters fought valiantly to contain the wildfires, response efforts were inhibited by a lack of properly positioned, readily available, and timely dispatched air support on top of ineffective communication and coordination among agencies, local governments, and responders due in part communications equipment that lacked interoperability.' The fiscal note for SB 34 does not include funding for equipment. But at a hearing in March, State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, noted that the Senate Finance Committee dedicated $192 million to bolster the state's firefighting equipment. The bill passed on second reading Tuesday afternoon. House lawmakers will likely schedule a third reading vote for Wednesday. If approved, SB 34 would then head to the governor for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Reverse Fire: Crews battle wildfire west of Fredericksburg
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — Crews were battling a wildfire just west of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County on Tuesday and officials named it the Reverse Fire. The affected area is estimated at 75 acres and it's 45% contained as of Tuesday night, per a press release. The fire broke out around 2:45 p.m. near the 400 block of East Grand Oaks Drive, the release said. It has generally moved east and north and is located before U.S Highway 290 and Reeh-Weinheimer Road. Fredericksburg Fire/EMS Department, in conjunction with the volunteer fire departments of Gillespie County, crews from across the region and the Texas A&M Forest Service continue to battle the blaze. 'Thanks to the coordination and quick response of our crews, we were able to get containment started on this fire,' said Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell. Bizzell said the cedar trees and numerous piles of dead vegetation throughout the area have continued to ignite and throw embers to start new spot fires. 'Our team will continue to work throughout the night to make sure there are no flare-ups,' Bizzell assured. There are no known road closures at this time, and the cause of the fire has not been determined, officials said. The city urged the public to avoid the area as crews continue to work. People in the area should listen to crews on the ground and residents were encouraged to avoid activities that could potentially ignite additional fires. Gillespie County remains in exceptional drought conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas will share equipment database with local fire departments to help beat wildfires
LUBBOCK — A bill that establishes a statewide inventory of firefighting equipment won final approval Wednesday. The bill, a response to the historic wildfires that engulfed the Texas Panhandle last year, now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Senate Bill 767, filed by state Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, creates a database of statewide firefighting equipment that is available during a wildfire. The inventory will include descriptions of the equipment, allow for searches by location and equipment types, and have contact information for fire departments. The database will be operated by Texas A&M Forest Service, a state agency that manages Texas' forests and natural resources. Sparks previously told a Senate committee that the agency already tracks emergency response equipment at fire stations. The bill makes that information widely accessible to fire departments statewide, including volunteer fire departments, which often operate on shoestring budgets and old equipment in rural areas. The agency would also be required to update the database annually. 'This would allow fire departments to share and locate equipment more effectively during emergencies, improve coordination and planning,' Sparks previously told a Senate committee on the bill. The bill received unanimous approval in both the Texas House and Senate. The bill also had the support of firefighters and people in emergency services, who testified to lawmakers that fire departments need this service. Texas lawmakers filed a bevy of bills to address the devastating wildfires that killed three people last year and burned millions of acres in the rural Panhandle. Sparks, along with state Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, and freshman state Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, all filed legislation suggested in a report by a House committee that investigated the fire. The bills include proposals such as creating a statewide network that would connect all first responders and state agencies, boosting funds to rural volunteer fire departments, and putting oversight on unregulated power lines. [A year after Texas' largest wildfire, Panhandle residents tugged between hope and anxiety] Two priority pieces of legislation — House Bill 13, which creates the Interoperability Council, and Senate Bill 34, a comprehensive bill on wildfire preparation and response — were approved by their originating chambers and are now in committee discussions. The House investigative committee concluded that unmaintained electrical lines for oilfield equipment started at least two of the blazes. The Smokehouse Creek Fire, which grew to be the largest fire in Texas history, was ignited after a decayed power pole snapped and landed in dry grass, the committee found. The committee also concluded that there are voluntary aid agreements between fire departments near each other, but volunteer fire departments can't easily find and request the equipment they may need. During the wildfires, there was an uncoordinated response between responding agencies and uncertainty about what equipment was available and needed to stop the blaze from spreading. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crabapple Fire: How you can help residents who lost homes
The Brief The Crabapple Fire in Gillespie County is now out. Nine homes were destroyed in the fire. The Woods family is looking to rebuild their home. The fast-moving Crabapple Fire that burned nearly 10,000 acres near Fredericksburg is finally out. Investigators are continuing to look into what sparked the fire as residents are seeing the damage the blaze left behind. What they're saying Isabella Woods' first home with her husband was destroyed in the Crabapple Fire. The two were in their upstairs apartment above the garage when the fire tore across their property. Charles Woods, Isabella's father, was working on remodeling the home next door. The house had been in their family for generations. "There was just a wall of fire and it just kept getting bigger and bigger. I literally tried to fight it off as long as I could," Woods said. "I think of all the memories, I have a lot of sadness I have a lot of anger but I'm trying really hard to put that in a better energy, try to move forward, clean up and rebuild." Help has poured in since last weekend, including more than $6,500 in donations to the family's GoFundMe from people looking to help. "It's hard to look for the good, but you know what, things like this happen and there's a lot of good things that come out of this. A lot of good people that come around and there's still good people out there and we're getting a lot of support, a lot of help," said Charles Woods. The Woods say it will take a while to rebuild, but they plan to do it for the next generation. "I feel very hopeful. I've got my husband. I've got my dogs and cats and I'm glad to be able to have the opportunity where we can start over and hopefully get somewhere again," said Isabella Woods. What you can do Gillespie County partnered with the OneStar Foundation and Rebuild Texas to create the Crabapple Fire Relief Fund. Fox 7 Austin also received another GoFundMe for a nearby family's workshop that was lost to the fire The backstory The fire began as a grass fire around 1 p.m. on March 15, just 11 miles north of Fredericksburg between Lower Crabapple Road and Landrum Creek. Smoke from the fire could be seen in Austin. Damage assessments from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are listed below: Nine homes were destroyed – seven were possibly occupied and two were not occupied. Two homes damaged 20 outbuildings destroyed Four outbuildings damaged Before it was put out, the fire burned 9,858 acres. The Source Information in this article comes from FOX 7 interviews with the Woods family, the Texas A&M Forest Service and Fredericksburg Fire EMS.
