LUBBOCK, Texas — Recent legislative measures in Texas aim to enhance wildfire preparedness and damage reduction across the state.
The laws came in response to the devastating impact of the Smokehouse Creek fire, which ravaged over a million acres in the Panhandle and resulted in three fatalities.
Texas lawmakers’ response includes conducting a comprehensive study of wildfire risk zones, increasing funding for rural volunteer fire departments, and developing a statewide registry of firefighting equipment accessible to all departments.
A substantial portion of this legislative package, Senate Bill 34, was introduced by State Senator Kevin Sparks, R-Midland.
This bill proposes a study on fuel loads, materials highly prone to catching fire, such as dry grass and vegetation, and establishes specific wildfire risk zones for residents, properties, and businesses.
Furthermore, the bill envisions a centralized database for firefighting equipment and bolsters funding to volunteer fire departments in areas prone to large-scale wildfires.
Representative Ken King from Canadian, whose region suffered significant damage, co-sponsored the bill.
King not only chaired the House committee investigating the fires but also played a key role in drafting a report on the disaster.
“We collected a lot of testimonies, and dedicated considerable effort to appropriately supporting our volunteer firefighters,” King stated.
“Senate Bill 34 reflects several priorities of volunteer firefighters.”
At least 10% of the funds in the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance program must benefit departments in high-risk wildfire zones.
A joint study by Texas A&M Forest Service and West Texas A&M University is set to determine wildfire risk zones, focusing on fuel loads comprising flammable materials like vegetation.
Many wildfires in the Panhandle originated from power lines coming into contact with dry vegetation, with the Smokehouse Creek fire caused by a broken utility pole intersecting with dry grass.
Researchers are tasked with evaluating various factors when defining risk zones, including potential loss of life, property damage, natural resource consequences, and financial recovery impacts post-wildfire.
This comprehensive study is slated for completion by December 1, 2026, and will be presented to Texas’ governor, lieutenant governor, and the legislature.
“Persistent wildfire threats necessitate preparation, coordination, and resources, which stand as the Panhandle’s most urgent challenges,” Sparks previously commented.
The House committee report also advocated for a statewide inventory of available firefighting equipment, given the previous lack of coordination among agencies during Panhandle fires and insufficient awareness regarding accessible equipment.
The Texas A&M Forest Service will maintain the database, enabling fire departments to view equipment descriptions, conduct location-based searches, identify equipment types, and find department contact information.
Volunteer fire stations will have access to this comprehensive inventory.
In addressing gaps labeled as regulatory “no man’s land,” where state agencies lacked authority over power line inspections at oilfield sites, another of King’s bills comes into play.
After investigations identified neglected electrical lines at oilfield facilities as the cause of the Smokehouse Creek Fire and others that week, the necessity for regulatory oversight emerged.
Data from the Forest Service shows that power lines have triggered approximately 60% of fires in the Panhandle since 2006.
King’s bill mandates that the Railroad Commission, responsible for overseeing the oil and gas industry, notify the Public Utility Commission upon finding substandard power lines at well sites or oil and gas facilities, with a report detailing their condition and whether the well is abandoned.
The Railroad Commission is also tasked to inform the landowner.
It requires collaboration between the two agencies to call on a state fire marshal or local authority to inspect the site and request the electric service provider to disconnect power if necessary.
Despite significant legislative strides in improving Texas’ wildfire response, House Bill 13, which proposed a statewide network connecting all first responders and state agencies, did not pass. Introduced by King, this bill aimed to form the Texas Interoperability Council, intended to spearhead a comprehensive emergency communication strategy.
This initiative earned praise from first responders during legislative reviews, and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd lauded it as the “boldest move” of his career.
Though successful in passing the House in April, the Senate did not advance the bill.