safety
Texas A&M Forest Service adds three new multi-mission aircraft to wildfire fleet
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Billy Banks , KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 24, 2026
· 1 min read
Texas A&M Forest Service has added three new multi-mission aircraft this week, the agency's second major aviation acquisition in recent weeks as the state builds its first dedicated wildfire aviation fleet. The purchase follows the addition of two wildfire suppression helicopters. The expansion c...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Billy Banks, KXXV (ABC 25) News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The expansion comes through House Bill 500, which allocated $257 million in 2025 to the Texas A&M Forest Service to purchase, operate, and maintain wildfire-suppression aircraft.
Why this matters in The Waco
The addition of three new multi-mission aircraft to the Texas A&M Forest Service's wildfire fleet has significant implications for Waco and McLennan County. With the region's wildland-urban interface and periodic drought conditions, the risk of devastating wildfires is ever-present. The expansion of the state's wildfire aviation fleet, made possible by House Bill 500, enhances the ability of the Texas A&M Forest Service to respond quickly and effectively to wildfires in the area. The fact that aircraft have already been mobilized 115 times this year, dropping over 1.25 million gallons of water and fire retardant, demonstrates the critical need for these resources. As the Waco area continues to grow and develop, the importance of robust wildfire suppression capabilities will only continue to grow, making this investment a crucial step in protecting lives, property, and natural resources in the community.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Texas A&M Forest Service has added three new multi-mission aircraft this week, the agency's second major aviation acquisition in recent weeks as the state builds its first dedicated wildfire aviation fleet. The purchase follows the addition of two wildfire suppression helicopters. The expansion c...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Billy Banks at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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