Houston, TX – The Houston Fire Department’s Wildland Division was represented at the 2026 Texas Emergency Management Conference, where Wildland Fire Coordinator Justin Huddleston presented a workshop focused on using prescribed fire for habitat management and wildfire risk reduction in urban natural areas.
According to the department, the presentation showcased the Houston Fire Department’s ongoing partnership with Houston Parks and Recreation Department to reduce wildfire risks in the city’s nature preserves. The effort includes the use of chainsaw teams and prescribed fire strategies to manage vegetation and improve safety.
Huddleston said Houston’s approach is becoming a model for urban fire departments nationwide.
“What we are doing in Houston is a model for urban fire departments across the country,” Huddleston said. “Prescribed fire is not just a rural tool anymore and we are proving that.”
The conference marked the second time the Houston Fire Department has presented at a major emergency management event.
The department previously shared its wildfire mitigation efforts at the 2025 National Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference in Orlando.
Houston Fire Department officials said the presentation reflects the department’s leadership in developing innovative strategies to reduce wildfire risks in urban environments.
