AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 6, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund, a statewide non-profit that is working to raise funds and awareness about the ongoing crisis facing first responders battling wildfires across Texas, is asking the media's and public's help to generate support for this critical effort.
Secure, tax-deductible online donations to the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund can be made by visiting www.txwildfirerelief.org .
"Over 77 percent of fire departments in Texas are volunteer departments who struggle daily on getting the equipment they need to respond to emergencies across the state," said Chief Chris Barron, Director of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas (SFFMA). "Eighty-six percent of the state's volunteer firefighters use personal funds for their departments' safety equipment and supply needs."
Barron added, "As Texas struggles with one of the worst droughts and wildfire seasons in state history, these volunteer first responders and their limited budgets are stretched thin. We hope Texans and people across the United States will give generously to these hard working volunteer firefighters."
Barron noted that the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund has received nearly half a million dollars in requests for wildland firefighting gear alone, and the fund is in urgent need of donations to help equip volunteer firefighters with the clothing, supplies, and safety equipment they need to effectively do their jobs.
Texas Wildfire Relief Fund Media
Contact:
Kelsey Coleman
(512) 236-1001
kelsey@txwildfirerelief.org
Jennifer Harris
(512) 773-7168
jharris@jwhcommunications.com
The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 committed to raising awareness and support for the volunteer fire departments' ongoing efforts to battle Texas wildfires. Donations and information is online at www.txwildfirerelief.org .
The State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas (SFFMA) is one of the largest trade associations in Texas. The 135-year-old organization is the oldest and the largest fire and EMS service association in the state. Membership includes 1,200 fire, EMS and International departments, more than 21,000 individual members and 80 industrial fire brigades.
SFFMA is online at www.sffma.org , on Twitter @sffma and on Facebook.com/SFFMA.
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The following files are available for download:
| wkr0001.pdf | Texas Wildfire Relief Fund Advisory |