Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Texas' request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant to combat the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties.
"Texas continues to provide all necessary resources to local officials and firefighters currently battling the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties," said Governor Abbott. "This crucial grant will help Texas fight this wildfire and protect the safety and well-being of Texans. I encourage Texans in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties to heed the guidance of local officials and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Texas remains engaged alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure our brave firefighters have the resources they need to protect our fellow Texans."
The grant approval means that Texas is eligible for 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for costs related to fighting this fire. These grants are designed for states and local jurisdictions dealing with fires on public or private forests or grasslands that could lead to major disasters.
Under Governor Abbott's direction, several state emergency response resources remain active:
- The Texas A&M Forest Service is providing personnel, equipment, aircraft, and support for firefighting efforts.
- The Texas Division of Emergency Management is coordinating response activities through various task forces.
- The Texas National Guard is deploying helicopters with firefighting capabilities.
- Several other state departments are involved in supporting health services, transportation monitoring, wildlife management, agricultural needs assessment, utility coordination, natural gas supply monitoring, environmental quality checks, information dissemination via a referral network, technology infrastructure oversight.
Residents can access wildfire tips and report damage through the Texas Disaster Portal at disaster.texas.gov. They can also use TDEM’s online damage survey tool at damage.tdem.texas.gov under “2025 Wildfire Incidents” for reporting purposes.
Governor Abbott emphasized preventive measures against wildfires: creating emergency plans, avoiding spark-causing activities, and adhering to local instructions. Additional resources include visiting websites like TexasReady.gov for tips on wildfire preparedness.
In addition to these efforts against the Pauline Road Fire, Governor Abbott has taken steps such as securing a U.S. Small Business Association Disaster Declaration for another fire incident known as Welder Fire. He has also obtained approvals for multiple Fire Management Assistance Grants across various fire incidents statewide while enhancing readiness levels at emergency operations centers.
