Texas Parks and Wildlife Updates Community on Prescribed Burns Following 2022 Fire
BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) held a community meeting on Monday to address concerns regarding prescribed burns in the wake of the 2022 Rolling Pines fire, which devastated over 800 acres and prompted evacuations.
Lulu Bright, a local resident living between two state parks, expressed apprehension about future burns, highlighting the need for safety in an area dominated by trees and open land. "It was certainly concerning," she recalled of the 2022 fire, emphasizing the visibility of flames from her property.
TPWD Superintendent Nathanael Gold reassured attendees that prescribed burns are crucial for habitat management in fire-adapted ecosystems. Following an out-of-state audit that identified 22 areas for improvement—including staffing and resource management—TPWD has implemented several changes to enhance safety and effectiveness in their controlled burns.
While some community members appreciated the modifications, others criticized the new measures as overly bureaucratic. One attendee argued that the increased regulations might hinder effective burn management rather than improve it, stating, "You’re trying to control the public reaction…not managing the burn."
Despite some dissenting voices, Bright felt more at ease after learning about the strategies TPWD plans to employ this fall. "It’s a great idea…if we don’t do it, any other measures will not be enough," she asserted, reiterating the necessity of controlled burns for overall ecosystem health.
The meeting highlighted ongoing efforts to balance community safety with ecological needs, as TPWD prepares to resume prescribed burns later this year, ensuring a careful approach after the lessons learned from past incidents.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
