The East Texas Prescribed Burn Association (ETX PBA), established in January of 2024, is a non-profit organization focused on the application of safe and effective prescribed fire across a variety of habitat types throughout eastern Texas. The PBA provides education and outreach to members and to the public through a variety of classroom and hands-on opportunities.
Utilizing the neighbor-helping-neighbor model, the PBA assists landowners in increasing wildlife habitat and biodiversity, reducing risk of wildfire, and improving overall forest health and aesthetics across east Texas.
The PBA serves Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Ellis, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Walker and Wood counties.
The PBA, along with agency partners, is happy to provide planning assistance to landowners in the form of site visits, habitat evaluations, burn break design, burn plan development and potential cost-share acquisition.
ETX PBA, agency personnel, volunteers and other fire professionals will assist landowners in the application of prescribed fire on their lands by providing equipment, expertise and an ample work force.
It is the PBA’s goal to engage with local communities to raise awareness regarding the numerous benefits of prescribed burning across the region.
Prescribed fire is one of the oldest and most ecologically beneficial management tools in a land managers toolbox, and when used properly can create a multitude of benefits including:
Removing dangerous fuel buildup with prescribed fire can drastically decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Fire promotes native plant production and biodiversity, which increases forage and habitat enhancement for a multitude of wildlife species.
Properly applied fire promotes nutrient cycling in the soil, increased water quality and abundance through the removal of undesirable vegetation and decreased harmful smoke emissions produced by wildfire.
