Lawmakers in Texas, looking back at the 26,000 fires that have burned 3,900,000 acres since December 2010, are asking questions. The Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security held a hearing on Tuesday in which Tom Boggus, director of the Texas Forest Service, testified that the annual grants (approved by the legislature and signed by the governor) to volunteer firefighters have fallen from $25 million in 2009 to $7 million today. Boggus said the volunteers, who suppress most of the wildfires in the state, have still been receiving funds for training and personal protective equipment, but the largest negative impact has been for equipment — fire engines, maintenance, tires, hose, and pumps.

Many of the rural fire departments have little or no reliable funding and depend on bake sales, grants, or donations to buy fire trucks and personal protective equipment for the volunteers so that they can protect the state’s citizens. Last year on their Facebook page the Texas Forest Service asked the residents of the state to donate to their local fire departments.