Texas A&M Forest Service awards grants for wildfire mitigation and equipment

The Texas A&M Forest Service has issued several rounds of funding to bolster wildfire preparedness and emergency response capabilities across Texas. Through the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program, $457,413 has been awarded to support 69 mitigation projects. These projects aim to treat 9,610 acres through mechanical fuel reduction and prescribed fire to protect homes, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Additionally, the agency awarded nearly $5 million to 118 rural volunteer fire departments via the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. This funding is intended for the purchase of firefighting apparatus, rescue equipment, and personal protective clothing. Specific recipients in Brown County include the Early Fire Department and the Blanket Volunteer Fire Department, which each received $25,000 for equipment and protective gear.