Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate additional wildfire response resources as large areas of South, West, and Northwest Texas face elevated-to-critical fire weather conditions this week.
“Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary resources to thwart any wildfire threats in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional resources in preparation of potential wildfire danger this week. Texans are urged to create an emergency plan, heed the guidance of state and local officials, and limit any activites that can cause a spark to best keep themselves and loved ones safe.”
The National Weather Service forecasts increased fire risk for parts of South Texas today and the Panhandle tomorrow due to dry fuels, strong winds, and above-average temperatures. Critical fire weather is expected midweek across regions including the High Plains, South Plains, Permian Basin, Big Bend, and West Texas. Wind gusts, daytime heating, and low humidity could increase wildfire risks through at least the latter half of the week.
Under Governor Abbott’s direction, several agencies have mobilized resources for wildfire response:
– The Texas A&M Forest Service has deployed more than 250 firefighters and support personnel from state, local, and out-of-state teams; over 75 pieces of heavy equipment; and more than 25 federally contracted firefighting aircraft.
– The Texas Department of State Health Services is providing Wildland Fire and Severe Weather Support Packages with medics, ambulances, and all-terrain vehicles.
– The Texas National Guard has made Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters available for firefighting.
– Other agencies involved include the Texas Department of Transportation (monitoring road conditions), Department of Public Safety (patrolling roadways), Parks and Wildlife Department (Game Wardens/State Park Police), AgriLife Extension Service/Animal Health Commission (agricultural support), Public Utility Commission (power outage monitoring), Railroad Commission (natural gas supply monitoring), and Commission on Environmental Quality (air/water/wastewater monitoring).
These measures supplement previously deployed state resources supporting local wildfire response efforts.
Texans are encouraged to prepare emergency plans and supply kits while avoiding activities that may start fires. Information on wildfire safety is available at tfsweb.tamu.edu or TexasReady.gov. Additional disaster preparedness details can be found at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
Governor Abbott has taken several steps in recent months related to wildfires: updating disaster declarations as threats continue; deploying extra resources ahead of forecasted high-risk periods; renewing or amending declarations as needed; activating TDEM responses; and issuing official disaster declarations for wildfire danger.
According to information from the official website, Governor Greg Abbott has led statewide services since his election in 2014. His office operates from Austin’s State Insurance Building. Under his leadership—recognized nationally by TIME magazine in 2024—the governor’s priorities have included job creation, economic opportunity expansion, education improvement initiatives, protection of individual liberties, parental empowerment in schools, border security efforts along southern Texas borders as well as exercising executive authority throughout the state.
