Exceptional Item Request
FY 2024-2025
Objective
Implement a tiered approach to wildfire suppression, relying on interagency partnerships.
Local fire departments and counties become first responders.
Texas A&M Forest Service is activated as fires or conditions exceed the local capacity to control.
As emergency response activity increases, other state agencies are mobilized.
As the capacity of state resources is exceeded, out-of-state resources are brought in to meet essential needs.
Challenges by the Numbers
71 – Average annual turnover of 548 employees plus additional training time to prepare new hires for field response
90 – Average number of days to fill positions
$15/hr – Firefighter starting pay
Background
Texas A&M Forest Service provides statewide leadership and technical assistance to ensure trees, forests, and related natural resources are sustained for the benefit of all. The agency supports the state’s incident response capability, protecting against wildfire and responding to a range of all-hazard incidents. The State of Texas assigns the agency the authority to take all actions deemed necessary for the prevention and suppression of wildland fires.
Increasing Emergency Response Capacity
As a direct result of population increases, fluctuating weather patterns and changes in land use, the expanding threat of wildfires has greatly increased requests for state assistance.
Add 100 fire and emergency response positions
Additional personnel are essential to keep pace with the growing demand for wildfire mitigation and suppression in Texas
Add/replace wildfire suppression equipment
Utilizing the latest in firefighting apparatus is crucial to enhancing response capabilities, allowing for faster response times and increasing life safety for both firefighters and the public.
Improve current pay levels
Recruit and retain a qualified workforce to provide
protection to Texas’ residents and natural resources. The agency has exhausted internal options for cutting costs and has maximized the use of other funding sources.
Fund aviation support costs
Suppression aircraft are an invaluable tool in wildfire response and provide rapid response across the state. Funding will allow the agency to strengthen aviation support capacity.
A duty to protect is included in the mission of Texas A&M Forest Service, and fire departments across the state are an essential partner in realizing that mission. The agency has a long history of supporting fire departments and is committed to helping enhance their emergency response capabilities.
Increasing local firefighting capacity
As a direct result of population increases, fluctuating weather patterns and changes in land use, the expanding threat of wildfires has greatly increased requests for state assistance.
Volunteer Fire Departments, (VFDs)
Volunteer fire departments provide essential front-line emergency services that directly protect Texans and the state’s natural resources every day. Grant requests exceed current funding by $16.7M each year, and it is imperative that the agency continue to invest in local fire departments to ensure they are well-equipped and trained
for response.
Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS)
The premiere mutual aid system in the nation, the TIFMAS program provides surge capacity at the request of the state to support catastrophic incidents. Continued investment will sustain and improve response capabilities to expand the state response to wildfires and all-hazard incidents.
One-time funding opportunities
The agency invests in fire departments through a variety of successful grant programs for VFDs, since 2002, and TIFMAS departments, since 2009. Funding is needed to address the number of outstanding requests and meet the response needs of a rapidly growing state.
$100M for VFD Grants
The demand for immediate life-saving equipment continues to increase each year and unfunded requests now total more than $171.5M. Due to insufficient funding, a department may currently wait several years before a request is funded.
$8M for TIFMAS Grants
Requests for apparatus and training far exceed the current funding of $1M each year and unfunded requests now total more than $23.4 million.
Al Davis, Interim Director, Texas A&M Forest Service
Contact
Lauren Murphy | Executive Assistant
Office of the Director
Texas A&M Forest Service
lmurphy@tfs.tamu.edu
