GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. ―Call it an early Christmas present from the State of Texas― checks for several Texoma fire departments. And they say the money is coming just in time. Josh Stevenson explains who is getting the funding and why.

Preston Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Allen Vols says 2005-2006 was a busy time for his department.

"I would rate it as the first or second worst fire season for us in the past decade" Vols says.

Pottsboro Fire Chief Donnie Glenn says that period of time was busy for his department as well.

"We had quite a few fires that year," Glenn says.

The 2005-2006 fire season was one of the worst years for wild fires in recent memory. Firefighters all over the state of Texas worked to put out those fires, using up tons of fuel and wearing out equipment keeping the flames at bay.

For volunteer departments, the cost of those fires was especially high.

"We work off of donations, grants, fundraisers, barbecues, things like that," Vols says.

But now the State of Texas is stepping in to lend a hand. With the passing of House Bill 15, the Texas Legislature has opened up funding to reimburse over 900 fire departments in 226 Texas counties for the role they played in fighting the fires of the 2005-06 season.

“I think it’s a great thing. Wild land fires can get fairly expensive," Glenn says.

Some departments have already received their reimbursement, like Preston VFD. They got $6,000.

"The funds will go back into our general fund that we will use in 2009,” Vols says.

More than a dozen fire departments in our area are on the list for reimbursement payments that will be distributed by the Texas Forest Service.