Texas Aerial Applicators Strengthen Ties with County Emergency Services; Consider a Similar Emergency Response Educational Session with Your Local Authorities

Last week, NAAA operator members, Seth and Lori Venable of R & S Flying Service in Bowie, TX, hosted a key meeting with their local Montague County’s Emergency Management Director and representatives from every fire station in the county. The event, catered by the Venables, aimed to foster collaboration between aerial applicators and local emergency services.

During the meeting, attendees were shown the First Response video produced by NAAREF, and they were provided with a comprehensive first response handout from the Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association, which includes detailed aircraft information and images. The event highlighted the role of aerial applicators in supporting fire-fighting efforts.

In response to inquiries about how they could assist in fire response, the Venables shared that they had added an insurance policy enabling them to assist with aerial firefighting in the county. They also assured the group that they were willing to donate both time and resources to support local firefighting efforts when needed.

The news was well-received by the emergency teams, who noted that having a local aerial applicator’s support could have helped prevent small fires from escalating in the past, as state resources often took hours to mobilize.

“This was a win for our business and a win for the NAAA,” said Seth Venable, reflecting on the positive outcome of the training. The event strengthened community ties and demonstrated the value of local partnerships in safeguarding the area. NAAA encourages operators to provide the First Response video produced by NAAREF and the comprehensive first response handout from the Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association when presenting to their emergency response agency.