Coalition Publishes First Annual Report

In our first year, I am proud of what the Hill Country Fire Coalition of Texas has accomplished—laying the foundation for a comprehensive, countywide wildfire mitigation program built on partnerships, planning, and action. Together with our dedicated volunteers, we established our program of work, launched free and confidential property risk assessments, held community education workshops, established the first-ever Firewise USA community, and began helping Kendall County residents understand their wildfire risk in meaningful, practical ways. The coming year marks a critical shift from building the framework to active implementation—not only by the volunteers who make up the Coalition, but by private property owners with the foresight to recognize the importance of reducing wildfire risk before a fire occurs.

Property risk assessments are essential because they help residents understand their exposure; however, their true value lies in the implementation of the mitigation strategies identified in each report. Unfortunately, a gap exists between Kendall County residents and the availability of state and federal assistance, as a small subset of higher-income households skews the countywide Area Median Income and prevents many residents with real financial or physical limitations from qualifying for help. In response, the Coalition will launch a Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program in 2026 to help bridge that gap and move more projects from assessment to action.

As Director, I remain committed to transparency and accountability. We provide quarterly updates to Kendall County Commissioners Court, publish a quarterly newsletter, and published our first annual report to document progress, outcomes, and lessons learned. While the Court has been an important partner, the Coalition cannot rely on government support alone. Reducing wildfire risk at the scale required to protect our communities demands partners—individuals, businesses, and organizations—who understand the value we bring to Kendall County and are willing to invest in making it safer for all who live and work here.

Wildfires may be inevitable, but disasters do not have to be. Through education, partnerships, and on-the-ground mitigation, we can reduce risk and lessen the impacts of future fires—for the good of the entire county. If you share this commitment, I invite you to support our work by making a tax-deductible donation at www.hcfcoftx.com/resources

We invite you to review our Annual Report

Hill Country Fire Coalition of Texas--a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established to help Kendall County, Texas, implement their Community Wildfire Protection Plan, issues its first Annual Report.

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