MERKEL, TX — On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott launched additional emergency resources amid increasing wildfire threats across Texas.
Wes Schempf serves as the woodland ecologist for Texas A&M Forest Service in Merkel. He said they are gearing up for if these predicted conditions escalate.
“We usually travel with at least two bulldozers and a motor grader,” Schempf said. “We do have a Tiffin Strike team that is located here with us at our office, here in Merkel, and they have at least two Type 5 engines, and maybe a Type 3 engine.”
KTXS asked how the Texas A&M Forest Service plans to protect all West Texans amid increased demands. According to Schempf, the State Emergency Operations Center serves as the central coordination point for distributing resources to critical areas. He added that upper management remains adaptable in handling resource distribution.
“We have a State Emergency Operations Center. That is kind of the nexus for sending resources where they’re needed,” he said. “Upper management is constantly considering all the threats that we have and is able to be flexible and move resources where they need to be moved.”
Schempf emphasized that counties north of Abilene are expected to face an increased susceptibility to these conditions.
“Haskell, Throckmorton, Shackelford — those counties that have a large grass component to all their fuels. The bigger ranches that are out there, that have a lot more grass, would have a lot more vulnerability at this point.”
To stay updated on the current wildfire status, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service website.