Numerous summer wildfires, an endless drought and rough economic times are taking their toll on volunteer fire departments that have longed survived on community service and generosity. "Monetarily, in general, the state fire services are underfunded," said Chris Barron, executive director of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas. "Seventy-seven percent of the fire service is volunteer departments, and they are working on a shoe-string budget." Last year, the state cut its annual grants for volunteer departments from $25 million to $7 million a year, said Barron.