To help remedy the financial situation long term, I would suggest the following:
Bring your state legislators to some of your wildland fire calls. Get them bunker gear and such and ride the rigs into battle as observers. Give them the first hand experience on what you do and what you experience (heat, smoke, dehydration, exhaustion, etc.) at fires.
When they are going through their legislative session, they can recall what you went through.
I too, as a volunteer firefighter. I serve on two volunteer fire departments and I hug the pager, because it is dry here.
Also, if your local fire department has a CUCV or other converted military vehicle, you may want to offer your expertise to them. Just showing them where to find the TM's online can really help. My hometown fire dept. just recieved a M1008. The town I work in recieved a HUMVEE. I am one of the few former military on these departments, so I "lead" them on the maintenance of these vehicles.