FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT FIRE OPERATIONS

Federal agencies primary response is to their designated public land area, however these fire resources can respond to mutual aid calls neighboring the property. Federal resources can be mobilized to assist the Texas A&M Forest Service for state response or be mobilized out-of-state to assist on other public lands.

National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
Fish & Wildlife Service – Southwest Region
National Park Service
Bureau of Indian Affairs – Southern Plains Region

TAMFS FIRE OPERATIONS

Since its inception in 1915, one of the primary missions of Texas A&M Forest Service has been the suppression and extinguishing of forest fires. In 1993, the mission was expanded to include the coordination of response to each major or potentially major wildland fire in the state.

Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response and suppression. Local fire departments and counties are the first responders, with state response being activated as wildfires or conditions exceed the local ability to control. In Texas, TAMFS is the lead agency for wildfire response. As the suppression resources of TAMFS and other state agencies are depleted, out-of-state resources are brought in, under state control, to meet essential needs.

TAMFS Fire Operations Command Staff
TAMFS Regional Fire Coordinators
TAMFS Regional Fire Coordinators Listing
TAMFS Task Force Coordinators
TAMFS Wildland Urban Interface Coordinators
TAMFS Fire Resource Locations
TAMFS Fire Ops IRD Fire Operations Protocols
TAMFS STAR Procedures & Overview
TAMFS RPIC Locations and Contact Information

TEXAS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAMS (IMT)

Texas Education Code § 88.122 Incident Management Teams, directs TAMFS to train, maintain, develop, and mobilize IMTs to provide incident support for state, disaster district, or local jurisdiction operations. As subject to this code, "an incident management team maintained under this section may consist of Texas A&M Forest Service employees and other state, local, and volunteer responders." In response to this statute, the agency manages IMTs located strategically throughout the state, as part of the Regional Incident Management Team (RIMT) Program. This program is funded through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and managed by TAMFS. In addition to the RIMT Program, TAMFS also manages the Lone Star State Incident Management Team (LSSIMT) Program, which consists of one Type 2 Incident Management Team and one Type 3 Incident Management Team. When any of these TAMFS managed teams are mobilized in support of a state or national mission assignment, they operate under the direction and control of the LSSIMT and TAMFS.

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TEXAS INTRASTATE FIRE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM

TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) is maintained by Texas A&M Forest Service. The program includes grants, training and qualifications and mobilization systems to make statewide use of local resources.
The program was first used during Hurricane Ike, and has since been used in responses such as to the Presidio flooding, wildfire outbreaks across Texas and Hurricane Alex & Harvey.
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HANDCREWS

A handcrew is an as needed, versatile 20-person state and national resource. Duties include hiking to remote locations of fires using hand tools to cut containment line, suppress hotspots, support firing operations, and fuels mitigation. Handcrew participation provides an excellent opportunity to learn leadership skills, fire behavior, fireline organization, and natural resource management. Participation is voluntary.

ALAMO REGULARS INTERAGENCY HANDCREW
The Alamo Regulars is a Type 2 Initial Attack handcrew formed by interagency resources from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, National Park Service and Texas A&M Forest Service. These agencies coordinate together to form a handcrew. The leadership of the crew rotates between the agencies and gives opportunity for experience and training.

Alamo Regulars Handcrew Operating Guidelines

LONE STAR STATE HANDCREW

The Lone Star State Handcrew is a Texas A&M Forest Service sponsored handcrew with full-time TAMFS employees. These employees voluntarily apply on an annual basis for participation on the crew. This crew is a Type 2 Initial Attack handcrew that meets national standards.

View the LSS Crew Story Map of what the Lone Star State Handcrew has accomplished in 2020 - 2021.