Texas A&M Forest Service announces wildfire mitigation grant opportunities and landowner outreach events
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service will open applications for the Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant and Prescribed Fire Grant from June 1 through July 14, 2026. These programs are designed to reduce wildfire risk to communities and natural resources across eligible areas of Texas.
The Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant is available to landowners in 39 Central Texas counties. A full list of eligible counties is available at https://tfsgis.maps.arcgis.
The Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant is funded through the USDA Forest Service. Most prescribed fire grants are also funded through the USDA Forest Service, with one program funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The grants support the implementation of hazardous fuel reduction practices, including mechanical treatments and prescribed fire, to decrease wildfire intensity and improve landscape resilience. Eligible applicants include private landowners, homeowner associations, nonprofit organizations and city and local government entities located within designated project areas.
“The Mechanical Fuel Reduction and Prescribed Fire Grants provide critical financial assistance to support proactive land management that reduces wildfire risk,” said Victoria Wenkman, Texas A&M Forest Service Community Resilience Program Specialist. “These efforts contribute to the protection of lives, property and natural resources while also improving conditions for wildfire response.”
The Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant provides reimbursement for approved treatments under the following categories:
- Hand-cutting treatment — $750 per acre for vegetation management conducted using hand tools, including chainsaws, shears and pole saws.
- Heavy equipment treatment — $2,000 per acre for treatments utilizing forestry mulchers or masticators to reduce hazardous fuels.
- Combination treatment — $1,500 per acre for projects incorporating both hand tools and mechanical equipment based on site-specific conditions.
*The maximum reimbursement available per applicant is $20,000. Treatments must be conducted by a qualified contractor.
Hazardous fuel reduction treatments target excessive vegetation, including brush, small-diameter trees and dead or downed material, which can contribute to increased wildfire intensity and spread. Strategic implementation of fuel breaks and defensible space enhances wildfire mitigation efforts by reducing fire behavior and improving access for emergency responders.
Prescribed burning is a land management tool used to reduce potential fuel for wildfires and help promote ecosystem restoration. For prescribed fire grants, reimbursements will be provided at a standard rate of $22.50 or $30 per acre, with an acreage cap of either 800 or 1,200 acres, depending on the specific grant awarded. All grants require the use of a certified and insured prescribed burn manager.
To support applicant engagement and program awareness, Texas A&M Forest Service will host three in-person workshops.
The first workshop will be held April 30, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Water Valley, Texas. The second will be held May 14, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Edwards County Parks Building in Rocksprings, Texas. The third will be held on May 28, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Bastrop County ESD No. 2, Station 4, in Bastrop, Texas.
The workshops are free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend.
A virtual webinar will be held at 12 p.m. June 2, 2026. The webinar, led by grant coordinators Karen Stafford and Victoria Wenkman, will provide an overview of the application process, eligible treatment methods and program requirements. To register, visit https://events.teams.
For more information, visit:
Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/
Prescribed Fire Grant: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/