For Montgomery County residents looking to prepare for the next wildfire season, the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department and Texas Forest Service are holding a town hall meeting April 5 at 7 p.m. Magnolia Fire Chief Gary Vincent and two representatives from the Texas Forest Service will be on hand to talk about what residents can do to protect their home, property and family from the devastation of wildfire.

This is the second year the MVFD is hosting the event and it is especially pertinent after the Riley Road fires that burned almost 20,000 acres in Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties in September 2011.

"Last year was an eye-opening experience for many Texas residents," said Jared Karns, a wildland urban interface specialist for Texas Forest Service. "Our goal is to empower residents with the appropriate tools and knowledge to take a proactive approach to upcoming wildfire seasons."

The meeting will cover the Ready, Set, Go! wildfire action plan, which provides checklists for families to work through so there is a clear understanding of what to do when a fire breaks out. There will also be time set aside for questions and answers.

More than 80 percent of wildfires in Texas occur within two miles of a community. In 2011, nearly 4 million acres burned, destroying 3,017 homes across the state. According to the Texas Forest Service, close to 40,000 homes directly threatened by wildfire were saved through the efforts of local, state and federal fire resources.

The town hall meeting will be held at Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department Training Center, located at 18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia.