In this episode of the Boerne Brew, host Jeff Flinn sits down with Doug Mackle, Logistics Administrator for the Hill Country Fire Coalition of Texas, and Toby Vicknair, Lieutenant with the Boerne Fire Department, to discuss National Wildfire Awareness Month. They cover how to wildfire-proof your home, the free property risk assessment program offered by the Hill Country Fire Coalition, and what it's really like to fight massive wildfires across the country — from the Texas Panhandle to the California Palisades.

The Boerne Brew airs on Boerne Radio 103.9 FM.

Timeline:

0:00 – Introduction & recent rain in the Hill Country

0:50 – Meet the guests: Doug Mackle & Toby Vicknair

1:29 – How the Hill Country Fire Coalition was formed (2023–2024)

2:35 – Home fire safety: embers, gutters, roofs & vegetation

5:50 – Wooden fences, decks, and fire breaks

6:45 – Fence fire break story

8:23 – How to contact the Hill Country Fire Coalition

9:05 – Upcoming Firewise property work in Sisterdale (May 12–13)

9:51 – Ladder fuels and fire behavior explained

10:27 – Wildfire stats: 85–86% are man-caused

11:10 – Toby's deployment: the 18,000-acre Lavender Fire in the Panhandle

13:05 – How firefighters are deployed via TIFMAS

18:41 – What deployment looks like: strike teams, 12-hour shifts

19:47 – California deployments: Palisades & Park Fire (429,000 acres)

24:24 – Recap & wildfire safety reminders

26:05 – Free property risk assessments — how to get one

30:03 – Wildfire season is now year-round

32:39 – Closing remarks & July 4th flag run plug

📞 Hill Country Fire Coalition: 830-326-9031

📧 info@hcfcoftx.com

Original Air Date:  May 9, 2026, as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

https://www.boernestar.com/