The 2011 wildfire season has been simply devastating for Texas and the people who call this state home. Four of the largest wildfires in recorded Texas history have occurred this season, making it one of the worst fire seasons ever. The long recovery and reforestation process can seem arduous and overwhelming, but Texas A&M Forest Service can help.

After the Fire: Statewide

Income Tax Guides 

• Income Tax Deduction for Casualty Timber Loss
• Income Tax Deduction for Loss of Yard Trees

Resouce Links 

 After the Fire: Central Texas

The Bastrop County Complex Fire (September 2011) 
A 34,000-acre inferno deemed the most destructive wildfire in state history - ignited over Labor Day weekend, forcing thousands of evacuations, destroying more than 1,600 homes and killing two people.  

The natural landscape also took a significant hit. More than 16,200 acres of pine and mixed-pine deciduous forests full of large, mature trees were charred during the fire.

There is much work to be done to restore the beauty of the natural landscape. Texas A&M Forest Service, along with partners of the Bastrop Recovery Project, is leading the effort in the recovery and restoration of natural resources damaged and lost due to the wildfire.

Bastrop Complex Fire Recovery Plan

• Bastrop Complex Fire Recovery Plan
• Financial Assistance Programs for Private Landowners

 Water and Erosion

• Preventing Soil Erosion After a Fire
• Wildfire Recovery: Protecting your Property from Soil Erosion (brochure/technical guide)
• Map of Soil Erosion Potential - Bastrop County Complex Fire
• Soil Erosion Control Practice Guide

 Reforestation

• Reforesting After a wildfire
• Tree Planting
• How to Plant a Seedling: video tutorial
• How to Plant a Seedling Brochure 
• Trees for Bastrop Recovery
• Lost Pines Seed Mixes

 Trees

• Liability for Hazardous Trees
• Dealing With Standing Dead Snags
• Controlling Brush After a Fire  

Wildlife

• Managing Wildlife After the Wildfire
• Feeding Wildlife

Endangered Species

• Minimizing Impacts to the Endangered Houston Toad
• What About the Houston Toad? 

Agricultural issues: Pasture, Cattle and Fencing

• Agricultural Management Considerations

Fungus

• The First Evidence of Recovery

Fire in Nature

•  Fire-maintained Ecosystems

After the Fire: East Texas
This year, wildfires have devastated forested tracts in Texas. If your forest has been damaged this year by wildfire and you would like help returning it to a productive state, please complete and submit the form provided in the link below. A Texas A&M Forest Service forester will contact you and help you get on the road to recovery.

Request assistance with forest recovery after a wildfire  

Wildfire Salvage Operations