Texas Forest Service: Born 1915, Rooted in Fire and Science

The Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) was created February 23, 1915 by the 34th Texas Legislature as the Texas State Forest Service. Renamed Texas Forest Service (1931), then Texas A&M Forest Service (2012) upon joining Texas A&M University System.

Why 1915?

• Devastating wildfires (1910, 1912) burned 500,000+ acres in East Texas piney woods.
• No organized suppression. Timber industry, railroads, settlers demanded action.
• Model: US Forest Service (1905), southern states following.

First Chief: W. Goodrich Jones

"Father of Texas Forestry." Pushed for tree planting, fire wards, forestry education. Established first state forest (Kirby, 1924).

Evolution

• 1920s–30s: Fire towers, lookout network, CCC camps.
• 1940s: Surplus military gear (jeeps, radios, aircraft).
• 1980s: Incident Command System (ICS) adoption.
• 2011: Bastrop Complex Fire (34,000 ac, 1,600 homes) — largest single fire response.
• Today: 350+ employees. Wildfire response, forest health, water, urban forestry, stewardship, conservation education.

Key stat: TFS protects 178M acres (68% of TX). 98% of wildfires human-caused.