Last year, Texas saw more than four million acres burn as more than 30,000 wildfires swept through the state.

Several counties, including Atascosa County, saw damage to property and valuable livestock grazing land. But some local farmers and ranchers say that fire, when used properly, is a good range management tool.

“Many of these pastures had a lot of underbrush growth and tall vegetation that turned into kindling after it stopped raining,” said Lloyd House Atascosa County Farm Bureau president. “If those brush piles and old growth had been burned off, wildfires would not have spread so far, so fast.”

As the severe drought label hangs over most of Texas, others in the state are doing more to increase the number of prescribed burns.

The newly created Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burn Association is working to boost prescribed burning clinics through the Texas A& M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

“Fire can be very beneficial for livestock and wildlife,” Mr. House said. “Being a steward of the land is more than just farming it or running cows. For some, part of that is preventing disaster like we saw last year with these prescribed burns.”

Roel Lopez, the institute’s associate director, said the goal is to gather resources and provide education and support for training and workshops in 2012.