Wildfire Response in Texas Gets A Boost With New Federal Team

The Trump Administration is taking steps to improve wildfire response in Texas and other wildfire prone states.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Will Combine Departments

A major reorganization of federal wildfire management is underway by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. The new U.S. Wildland Fire Service will combine fire management across the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These agencies currently manage over 500 million acres of land.

Order 3443 Will Change the Approach to Fighting Wildfires

The new order issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is set to go into effect in January 2026. The goal of the new department is to provide a more efficient method of fighting the growing fire threat to lives and property nationwide. President Trump has long criticized what he called outdated and fragmented systems that hindered the firefighting process. Officials say the new department will cut through the bureaucracy while creating a unified, modern wildfire response.

The Focus of the Firefighting Restructuring Plan

The plan will create a joint federal firefighting aircraft service and consolidate fire prediction services into a national intelligence capability. New wildfire risk mapping tools will be created and personal protective equipment standards will be modernized for firefighters.

Texas Wildfire History

Texas is no stranger to dangerous wildfires with the majority of wildfires happening between January and May. The largest wildfire in Texas history was the 2024 Smokehouse Creek Fire, at over 1 million acres. The 2006 East Amarillo Complex fire was the second largest wildfire and caused the most deaths. The 2011 Bastrop County Complex fire destroyed the most homes and structures.