Your support is critical and urgent – Please help Texas Volunteer Firefighters by making a tax-deductible donation to Texas Wildfire Relief Fund today!

Our Mission

The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) committed to generating awareness and garnering support for Texas volunteer firefighters. We must come together as a state to help provide necessary resources to the firefighters in need and ensure Texas is prepared for future wildfire disaster relief.

The Need

Texas is facing the worst wildfire season in the state's history, and our volunteer fire departments are grossly underfunded.  We need your support in order to provide Texas firefighters with the equipment, water, food, and fuel necessary to continue battling wildfires.

Critical Conditions

  • A "perfect storm" was created during the summer of 2010.
    • Drenching rains from Hurricane Alex led to a particularly lush vegetation growth.
    • The 2010 winter was uncommonly cold, killing off most of the vegetation and creating ideal fuel for wildfires.
    • In 2011, the driest March in state history only compounded a dire situation.
    • As of February 7, 2012, 54.96% of the state is still in an exceptional drought.
  • 104 out of 254 Texas counties are currently under a burn ban - that's 41% of the state.

Damage

  • So far 30,547 wildfires have raged across Texas; the largert number in the state's history.
  • 3,993,716 acres have been burned.
  • 3,947 homes have been destroyed.
  • More than 1,400 wild and domesticated animals have perished in these fires.
  • Wildfires have caused more than $78.1 million in agriculture financial losses.

Lives Lost

  • 3 firefighters have died since January 1, 2011.
  • 2 civilians have died.
  • 29 firefighters have been injured.
  • 2 civilians have been injured.

Why Support

  • 39,413 homes were saved by firefighters during the 2011 wildfire season.
  • 77% of our fire service is staffed by our volunteer fire departments.
  • There are approximately 30,000 volunteer firefighters across Texas representing 1,400 volunteer fire departments.
  • 86% of our volunteer firefighters use their personal funds to meet the day-to-day equipment and supply needs of their fire department.
  • It costs approximately $8,400 to completely outfit one firefighter.

Call to Action

With our continued drought, the need to support our firefighters will only deepen.  Please donate today to help support the firefighters that battle the wildfires threatening the lives and property of the citizens of Texas.

Contact

For more information or if you would like to help, please contact Jaimie Lenhardt at (512)236-1001 or Jaimie@txwildfirerelief.org.