Brazos County fire agencies prep for dry summer amid budget cuts, reduced personnel
Bryan and College Station fire departments say 2025 is expected to bring enhanced fire conditions.
BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KBTX) - Over the next few months, the Brazos Valley is predicted to be in the center of a hotspot, leading to conditions that make it easier for wildfires to spread.
Models from the National Interagency Fire Center are showing a growing trend of spreading fires in wildlands from June through August in Washington, California, Florida, and most of Central Texas. Brazos Valley fire agencies are already working together to make sure they’re ready to fight those fires after thousands of wildfire prevention employees are laid off. Government officials say they’re committed to helping those firefighting teams.
“The Brazos Valley is prone to wildfires. It’s that time of year again when things dry out, and it’s very easy for brush and for grass and things like that to catch on fire,” explained Chris Lamb with the Bryan Fire Department.
The summer of 2025 is projected to be a severe wildfire season.
In 2023, fires caused $23 billion in property damage and about 3,600 deaths but experts now project that 2025 could be even worse. This year, the country is heading into the wildfire season with about 4,000 fewer fire prevention employees due to budget cuts.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Secretary the U.S. Department of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, said they were committed to protecting the areas at risk. Part of that effort is permanent pay raises for fire prevention employees, safety initiatives, and accessible resources for fire response teams.
“I know that from a standpoint of Interior, that earlier this year we had authority to add summer firefighter help,” shared Sec. Burgum.
However, a slew of funding cuts and a loss of federal workers who support wildland firefighting are making planning for the upcoming season challenging.
The Bryan Emergency Management Center is anticipating a dry summer and working hand-in-hand with other agencies around the area to get ready for the wildfire season.
“We had been included in a state declaration for disaster for drought conditions multiple times over the last year, and even with the rains that we’re getting this year, it’s trending, unfortunately, towards another dry, hot year,” Jeanelle Johnson, City of Bryan Emergency Management Coordinator, revealed.
To stay ahead of the heat, Stuart Marrs with the College Station Fire Department said, rather than getting ready for the fire season, Brazos Valley firefighting teams focus on staying ready.
“We prepare it through training. We have wildland firefighters who are trained in how to approach these fires and how to put them out safely, and we refresh that training every year,” explained Marrs. “How to approach the wildland fires, what tools to use, and how to keep ourselves safe in those fires.”
Officers say the best form of wildfire safety lies in the community helping with prevention.
“If you’re going to be burning anything or doing anything that could cause a fire, such as welding or using power equipment, gas power equipment outside, or if you’re a smoker, of course, be conscientious. Be careful because those little sparks can create big problems,” Marrs warned.
Burning is never allowed within city limits but for those in the county, officers advise staying informed on burn bans and wind conditions before lighting that match.
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