The Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) has announced its intention to return more than $43 million dollars in remaining appropriated fire suppression funds back to the State of Texas this fall.
The 83rd Texas Legislature appropriated $161 million to pay wildfire suppression costs incurred during the years 2011 and 2012.
According to a TFS news release, the agency has received $43.2 million in reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Another $6.7 million in FEMA reimbursements are being processed and may also be returned to the state upon TFS receiving that money.
TFS reports since 2005, Texas has seen 149,132 wildfires that have burned nearly 9.3 million acres.
