May 5, 2026 - The 27th annual Texas Interagency Wildfire Academy: Spring will commence in Conroe at a new venue, the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center, May 5 through 14, 2026.
“For more than two decades, our East Texas Interagency Wildfire & Incident Management Academy has been proud to call Angelina College home. We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding partnership, support and hospitality that Angelina College has provided over the years,” said Chelsea Fikes, Texas A&M Forest Service academy coordinator. “Their facility has been the foundation for training, growth, and countless memories for our instructors, students, and staff.”
As both organizations continue to grow, there is a need to recognize the importance of evolving and embracing new opportunities. The Texas Interagency Wildfire Academy: Spring will be hosted at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe.
Each year, firefighters travel across the state and nation to attend the academy to continue their education and earn nationally accredited training qualifications. The mission of the academy is to enhance wildland firefighters’ knowledge while promoting safe and cost-effective operations.
“We are proud to continue to uphold a tradition of quality training that provides every participant with an excellent learning experience,” said Fikes. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center for opening their doors and welcoming our academy as we continue our mission.”
More than 300 students are expected to attend from local, state, and federal agencies across the nation. Twenty classes are available this year that emphasize entry-level and intermediate training in wildfire suppression for firefighters and incident managers.
Training tuition assistance is available to eligible departments through Texas A&M Forest Service under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (HB2604) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS).
Academy cooperators include Texas A&M Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Montgomery County OEM, Conroe FD, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, National Park Service, Southern Area (Type 3) Gray Team, Travis County Parks, US Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
Additional academy information is available on the Texas Interagency Coordination Center (TICC) website at ticc.tamu.edu.
