It’s official. Monday, July 17, 2023, marked the beginning of wildfire season in the Texas Hill Country and surrounding region.

Unlike the highly-anticipated arrival of spring wildflowers, this particular “season” is most unwelcome, if not downright dreaded.

Fortunately, the Texas A&M Forest Service provides expert firefighting service both on the ground and in the air from its base at the Gillespie County Airport in Fredericksburg.

Heavy spring rains provided temporary relief from the e...