Texas uses 2003 law to support wildfire fighting

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – In 2003, after a year of devastating wildfires, then-President George Bush signed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) into law.

Twenty-one years later, it finds its way to North Texas.

“Ideally, we want our lands and communities to be reliable enough for a fire to come through without affecting our humanity and our structures,” said Adam Turner, North Texas regional coordinator for wildland-urban interfaces with the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The law supports cities and counties in developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in the event of a wildfire.

Western states were among the first to develop and implement CWPPs, but as wildfire threats increase, more states are following suit.

CWPPs typically include an action plan to remove and control dead and dried grasses and plants, educate citizens about wildfire preparation and prevention, and build “defensible areas” to separate buildings from fire-prone areas.

However, Turner says, no two plans will be exactly the same.

“Each individual community or organization implementing these measures will have different priorities depending on what their individual risks are,” he said.

Twenty-six counties across Texas have already developed plans, and several counties in North Texas are currently working on plans.

In the meantime, and with fire bans still in effect in many counties, Turner says citizens can take responsibility themselves.

“Local citizens can adopt some of these goals and efforts to begin protecting their homes, their neighbors and their communities,” he said.

Turner said adding a thin layer of wire mesh to the outside fence of a building can slow or stop the spread of a fire.

“This will greatly reduce the amount of embers that can get into your home, and embers are the leading cause of home damage in wildfires,” he said.

Turner says a well-maintained garden or flowerbed free of dried debris can also act as a barrier. Additionally, laying down a layer of rocks, gravel or cement to separate buildings from grassy areas can add a truly “defensible area” to the property.

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