One year after a series of destructive wildfires tore through the Texas Panhandle, scorching more than 1.14 million acres, community members and officials are working together to prevent a similar disaster. Their efforts focus on better preparedness, smarter land management, and stronger communication between landowners, local agencies, and emergency responders.
At the February 2025 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Wildfire Preparedness Meeting in Canadian, landowners, ranchers, and local leaders gathered to discuss strategies for fire prevention and response. The meeting provided planning guides, research-backed tools, and expert insight into managing the unpredictable wildfire risks that come with the region’s extreme weather patterns.
Adapting to an Unpredictable Landscape
Texas A&M Range Specialist Dr. Morgan Treadwell emphasized the need for landowners to take a proactive approach. She introduced the recently released Wildfire: Preparing the Ranch guide, a step-by-step resource designed to help ranchers and homeowners prepare for wildfire threats. Treadwell encouraged attendees to break the information down into small, manageable discussions with their families and neighbors.
“There’s no predicting these weather patterns and extreme events that are moving in and out,” Treadwell said. “So, how can we do a better job of reading the ground and using the tools we have to make informed decisions?”
One such tool is the Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP)—a free, online mapping system that allows landowners to track rainfall and vegetation growth on a weekly basis. RAP provides satellite-based data to help ranchers assess how quickly forage is turning into wildfire fuel. Another tool, PhenoMap, offers near-real-time satellite imagery of vegetation conditions, helping landowners plan for grazing, drought response, and fire risks.
By using these tools, Treadwell said, landowners can make better management decisions, such as identifying high-risk areas near highways or power lines and implementing fire prevention measures like mowing, prescribed burns, or firebreaks.
Fire Prevention at Home and in the Community
Texas A&M Forest Service Area Operations Chief Lee Andersen addressed attendees about home and property fire prevention. He stressed that wind, not just fuel, is the biggest driver of wildfires in the Panhandle—a critical distinction from other wildfire-prone regions. Because of this, traditional safety guidelines recommending a five-foot vegetation-free perimeter around homes aren’t enough. Instead, Andersen recommended extending that clearance to at least 30 to 100 feet to prevent embers from igniting structures.
“Y’all don’t have fuel-driven fires,” Andersen explained. “You have wind-driven fires. That changes how we need to prepare.”
Andersen also urged landowners to communicate with their neighbors and local fire departments. He encouraged ranchers to create evacuation and identification plans for livestock, share property maps with emergency responders, and maintain clear exit routes.
Building a More Resilient Future
Following criticism after the 2024 wildfires, the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) has taken steps to strengthen relationships with local communities. The agency has made equipment adjustments, shifting from bulldozers to more effective road graders for fire suppression. It has also focused on improving communication with landowners and emergency responders.
Hemphill County AgriLife Extension Agent Andy Holloway acknowledged the changes and praised TFS for its commitment to wildfire prevention in the region over the next five years.
“They’ve been listening,” Holloway said. “They’re putting their money and their actions where their mouth is, and that means a lot to me because our town about burned to the ground.”
As the meeting concluded, community members reflected on the importance of continued education, collaboration, and preparation. Handouts on wildfire behavior, insurance considerations, and emergency response planning were distributed, reinforcing the need for a proactive approach.
Holloway, nearing the end of his tenure as county agent, became emotional as he addressed the crowd.
“I hope what we’re doing makes a difference for the future,” he said. “So that nothing like what happened last year ever happens again.”
