Texas A&M Forest Service on Tuesday launched the Texas Prescribed Burn Manager Insurance Program to provide liability protection for qualified certified and insured prescribed burn managers. The program was established in response to House Bill 2563 in an effort to increase the use of prescribed fire as a wildfire mitigation tool by reducing liability barriers faced by prescribed burn managers.
“Prescribed burning is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires,” said Texas State Representative Trent Ashby. “Last session, I was proud to work with Texas A&M Forest Service to establish the Texas Prescribed Burn Manager Insurance Program, which will remove one of the primary barriers facing certified professionals who perform this important work. The launch of this program represents a proactive effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect our land, livestock, homes, and communities across Texas.”
Prescribed fire is the planned application of low-intensity fire to the landscape by fire and fuel specialists to maintain healthy, resilient landscapes. The tool is recognized as one of the most cost-effective and efficient tools for reducing hazardous fuel loads, improving ecosystem health, enhancing wildlife habitat, controlling invasive species and lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
“As a premier land-grant university system, our foundational duty is to provide research, resources and practical solutions directly to Texas communities,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “Through the Texas Prescribed Burn Manager Insurance Program, Texas A&M Forest Service is fulfilling that land-grant promise by empowering land managers with tools to reduce hazardous fuel loads as well as the liability protection while performing those practices.”
Despite prescribed fire’s many benefits, it does have an inherent liability risk. The insurance program helps address these concerns by providing a mechanism for liability protection while promoting responsible burning practices.
Commercial insurance options have become limited or unavailable for certified and insured prescribed burn managers across Texas. The Texas Prescribed Burn Manager Insurance Program fills that gap by providing liability coverage for covered claims, giving qualified practitioners greater confidence and security when conducting prescribed burns.
“Wildfire risk in Texas is inevitable,” said Erin O’Connor, Texas A&M Forest Service mitigation and prevention department head. “Expanding the use of prescribed fire is critical to reducing hazardous fuels and improving landscape resilience. By providing liability coverage for qualified burn managers, this program supports the safe application of prescribed fire and helps advance long-term wildfire risk reduction across Texas.”
The program is a self-insurance pool administered by Texas A&M Forest Service and is available to qualified certified and insured prescribed burn managers who meet the program requirements and maintain compliance throughout the coverage period.
Learn more about the insurance and how to burn managers can apply here.
This release originally appeared on The Texas A&M University System newsroom.
Article source and photo credit: Texas A&M Forest Service Communications
