August 20, 2015 —COLLEGE
STATION, Texas — East Texas landowners may now be reimbursed for helping to
reduce overgrown vegetation on their lands. In an effort to reduce wildfire
hazards on private property, Texas A&M Forest Service is offering grants to
conduct prescribed burning.
Strategically-planned
prescribed fires can enhance ecosystems and protect homes and communities from
wildfire.
“This year’s
abundant rainfall has increased the already problematic amount of hazardous
understory vegetation in our East Texas forests. When the weather is hot and
dry, this ‘fuel’ can contribute to dangerous wildfires. Prescribed burning
during late winter and spring is an effective tool to remove heavy fuel loads,”
Andy McCrady, fuels coordinator with Texas A&M Forest Service, said.
“The Community
Protection Program Prescribed Fire Grant allows trained specialists to conduct
effective, cost-efficient methods to remove dangerous fuel loads and return the
ecosystem to its natural state, benefiting landowners, local communities, wildlife and
forests” McCrady said.
TFS
has administered this grant since 2006. Last year, TFS passed through grants
for prescribed burning on 2,141 acres for $64,245 in funding by the U.S. Forest
Service.
This year, $225,390 is available through the U.S. Forest Service
Community Protection Program for applicable prescribed burn
projects.
Interested parties within a 10-mile radius of a national forest are encouraged
to apply.
TFS does not
conduct any of the prescribed burns. Upon approval of funding the
prescribed burn will be
conducted by a contractor of the landowner’s choice. Landowners can expect
reimbursement of up to $30 per acre, pending successful burn inspection by TFS.
The deadline
for application submission is September 30, 2015.
For more
information and to download an application visit tfsweb.tamu.edu/cppgrant. For more
information on prescribed burning visit goodfires.orgor the Prescribed Burning Board page.
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Texas
A&M Forest Service Contacts:
William “Andy”
McCrady
Fuels
Coordinator
936-689-9393
wmccrady@tfs.tamu.edu
Kelly
Reeves-Weaver
WUI Specialist I, Lufkin
936-238-0756 mobile
936-639-8162 office
kreeves-weaver@tfs.tamu.edu
NOTE: for
printed text version replace Prescribed Burning Board page
with http://www.texasagriculture.gov/Home/ProductionAgriculture/PrescribedBurnProgram/PrescribedBurningBoard.aspx