Hemphill County Farm Bureau representatives recently presented $5,000 donations from Texas Farm Bureau to two local volunteer fire departments that responded to the historic wildfires in the area in February and March.

The financial donations to the Gem City Volunteer Fire Department and Canadian Volunteer Fire Department are an effort to show appreciation for the departments and to help them replenish resources used in the fire response.

"Texas Farm Bureau and Hemphill County Farm Bureau have always valued the critical service that our volunteer fire departments provide for their communities. They fill a crucial role in helping to safeguard the lives and property of citizens in areas that otherwise may have no protections," said Gene Franks, Hemphill County Farm Bureau president. "The resources of many volunteer fire departments were stretched thin during the recent outbreak of wildfires. We hope this donation will help the departments recover some of those resources."

The recent wildfires in the Panhandle were devastating to many residents, Franks added, but the losses would have been even greater without the efforts of so many volunteer fire departments.

The TFB relief program provides funding for 24 volunteer fire departments in the Panhandle. February and March wildfires burned over 1.2 million acres in the area.

IN PHOTO ABOVE: Gem City volunteer firefighter Travis Macias (at left) and Canadian volunteer firefighter Bryan Bartlett (at right) receive donations from Texas Farm Bureau Board Members Jim Haley, Kenneth Wicker and Doug Crouch.