Saturday, March 26, 2022

West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund Needs Our Help


Story by Julie Tomascik
Editor/ Texas Farm Bureau

Wildfires have swept across Central and West Texas this month, burning over 86,000 acres. Some of those fires are still not fully contained. The damage from the burning fires sparked Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a disaster declaration for 15 counties. Those counties include Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter, Randall, Williamson, Blanco, Erath, Hood, Runnels and Starr.

In an effort to help farmers and ranchers impacted, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) established the West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund.

“Although we don’t know the full extent of the damage caused by the fires, we do know the losses will be staggering,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Farm Bureau members have always stepped up to help their neighbors in need, and this wildfire relief fund will collect tax-deductible donations to meet the needs in affected areas.”

The program will collect and distribute monetary contributions only. TFB will match 50% of any donation to the West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund made by a county Farm Bureau up to $2,000. Other efforts are ongoing by various organizations to collect donations of hay, feed, and fencing supplies for those impacted by the fires.

Burning Situation

Fueled by dry, windy conditions, the fires swept across Texas in March. The Eastland Complex wildfires consisted of seven fires and spanned more than 54,000 acres. It was considered a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak (SPWO) and began on March 17. This event supported the rapid growth and extreme fire behavior in Eastland County.

SPWO events, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, have caused some of the most destructive wildfires in Texas history. While SPWO fires account for 3% of reported wildfires, Texas A&M Forest Service officials noted they account for 49% of the acres burned.

SPWO events are extremely dangerous fire weather phenomenon characterized by an environment of dry vegetation, dry west-southwest winds across an area with low relative humidity, above-average surface temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, and clear, sunny skies. 

Another SPWO fire was the Perryton fire located in the Texas Panhandle in 2017 that burned 318,156 acres. Fires also burned in West Texas, devouring acres of pastureland and farmland, as well as livestock, homes, barns, and equipment.

Farmers and ranchers sprang into action — moving cattle, packing up families, and building fire breaks. They worked alongside state agencies to try to contain the fires.

“During this tragedy, we saw neighbors helping neighbors, lending trailers to haul livestock and housing livestock, horses and pets,” Boening said. “Texas is doing what Texas does best—helping one another, and Farm Bureau is doing its part, too.”

Some rain has since fallen, helping the charred countryside begin to heal. But it will take time, rain, and more help from Mother Nature, but Texas farmers and ranchers will rise from the ashes.

How To Donate

Credit card donations may be made via PayPal on the TFB website at texasfarmbureau.org/wildfire-relief-fund.

Checks may be made out to: 
Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation 

and mailed to: 
West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund, 
P.O. Box 2689, 
Waco, Texas 76702-2689. 
Attention: Chris Daughtery 

Please include this information on donation envelopes.
The charitable donations are tax-deductible.

How To Apply

Farmers and ranchers with unreimbursed agricultural losses are encouraged to apply. The application form is available on the West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund webpage.

Applications are due May 31.

Wildfire Updates

For more information on the relief fund and the latest update on supplies needed, visit the West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund webpage.

To view the Texas A&M Forest Service statewide active fire response map, navigate to public.tfswildfires.com.
_______________________________________________________

Note From The American Cowboy Chronicles

To my dear readers, my friends, 

It is not every day that I ask for your help in an emergency. So please understand that the wildfires which swept across Central and West Texas in March have burned over 86,000 acres and are still not out. This has hurt all Americans. No, no just the good folks in Texas. 

I remember being evacuated and not knowing if my home was still there during the 2015 Butte Fire. I remember thinking about what would happen, where would I start to pick up the pieces. I thank God every day that my home, my property, my family were spared. We did not have to go through the horrible task of rebuilding. That's not the case in Texas right now. Sadly, many have lost everything and now need our help.

So yes, this is your chance to do so. If you are looking for ways to help farmers and ranchers devastated by the wildfires, the Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation established the West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund to facilitate getting financial assistance to those in need.

And remember, help is there for farmers and ranchers who have been hit hard by this. If you are a farmer or rancher affected by the wildfires and need help covering unreimbursed agricultural-related losses, please contact the Texas Farm Bureau’s West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund for help.

Download the application to help cover unreimbursed agricultural losses. Return completed applications to your county office or the address below by May 31.

Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation
West Texas Wildfire Relief Committee
P.O. Box 2689
Waco, TX 76702-2689
Attn: Chris Daughtery

Get the application here!

The link above should take you to a PDF Application that looks like below:

I hope the above example helps. Of course, you can make a tax-deductible donation today. 

Texas Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Research and Education Foundation is accepting tax-deductible donations to aid in the relief effort following the devastation from the wildfires in Central and West Texas. This fund will collect and distribute monetary contributions only.

Do not hesitate to contact Chris Daughtery at cdaughtery@txfb.org with monetary donation questions.

Allow me to go over this information again. If you prefer to pay by check, it should be made out and sent to:

Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation
West Texas Wildfire Relief Fund
P.O. Box 2689
Waco, TX 76702-2689
Attn: Chris Daughtery

If you live in the area and want to help with hay, feed, and fencing supplies. Those are needed and are appreciated. Hay, feed, and fencing supplies can be dropped off at the address below from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

Gorman Milling Co., Inc.
Fiber Plant 1200 E Townsend
Gorman, TX 76454
Contact: Luke Fritts,
Phone 254-485-9193


Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Contact: 979-314-8200


The relief fund is accepting monetary donations only. So please, make your tax-deductible donation at txfb.us/wildfirerelieffund.

I'm donating what I can along with sending my prayers to our fellow Americans who are in trouble. And yes, I know full well that these are tough times. And frankly, we all understand that we can only do what we can to help others. But really, big or small, any help that those folks can get is useful and grateful.

God bless you and yours for helping.

Thank you,
Tom Correa