Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant is sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. Provides grants for wildfire suppression equipment, protective gear, training, and related expenses for volunteer fire departments in rural areas.

Volunteer Fire Department Resources | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Resources for Volunteer Fire Departments There are several federal programs and grants administered through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry that are available as resources to help volunteer fire departments relat​ed to wildland fires.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants</h1>\r\n<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides financial, technical, and other assistance to state officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 in population to prevent, control, and suppress fires which threaten:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Human life</li>\r\n<li>Livestock</li>\r\n<li>Wildlife</li>\r\n<li>Crops</li>\r\n<li>Pastures</li>\r\n<li>Orchards</li>\r\n<li>Woodlands</li>\r\n<li>Farmsteads</li>\r\n<li>Other improvements in rural areas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>The key objectives of this program are to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas.

</p>\r\n<p>Therefore, the selection of the participating agencies must be based on vulnerability and the adequacy of existing fire protection. </p>\r\n<p><b>This is a cost-share program. Financial assistance on any project during any fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures -- including expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations participating in the agreement.

The maximum grant for 2025 is $15,000. </b></p>\r\n<h3>2026 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants</h3>\r\n<p><b>Application Period: Monday, September 28, 2026 through Thurdsay, January 7, 2027. </b></p>\r\n<p>To follow Pennsylvania Management Directive 305.

20, all applicants will be required to agree to terms and conditions of funding during the application process. </p>\r\n<p>If awarded, the agreement of these terms and conditions will become the grant agreement of the applicant. </p>\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https://elibrary.

dcnr. pa. gov/GetDocument?

docId=6697306&DocName=2023_Volunteer_Fire_Assistance_Grants. pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (PDF)</a> provides information about approved grantees from 2023. </p>\r\n<p>Pennsylvania fire company officers can apply for Volunteer Fire Assistance grants using the <a href=\"https://apps.

dcnr. pa. gov/grants/Default.

aspx? rtn=Grants/Opportunities. aspx?

area=VFA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Grant ​​Portal</a>. </p>\r\n<p>Check the <a href=\"https://elibrary. dcnr.

pa. gov/GetDocument? docId=1742329&DocName=VFAInstructions.

pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Directions for the Vo​lunteer Fire Assistance Grant Application (PDF)</a> before beginning the process.

</p>\r\n<h3>Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Eligibility</h3>\r\n<p>Grants can be used for:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Purchase of wildfire suppression equipment</li>\r\n<li>Wildfire protective gear</li>\r\n<li>Mobile or portable radios</li>\r\n<li>Installation of dry hydrants</li>\r\n<li>Wildfire prevention and mitigation</li>\r\n<li>Wildfire training</li>\r\n<li>Certain projects involving the conversion and maintenance of federal excess vehicles received from the ​Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry and used for fire suppression</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>A priority will be placed on projects that include the purchase of wildland fire suppression equipment and wildland fire protective gear.

</p>\r\n<p>Priority also will be given to fire companies which have established goals and objectives and have developed plans to meet them. </p>\r\n<p>Grants CANNOT be used for:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Purchase of structural fire equipment or protective gear</li>\r\n<li>Supply hose larger than 2.

5 inches in diameter</li>\r\n<li>Structures</li>\r\n<li>Routine maintenance of vehicles not received from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry</li>\r\n<li>Medical services<br>\r\n</li>\r\n<li>Ambulance services</li>\r\n<li>Fire police equipment and gear</li>\r\n<li>Search and rescue equipment and gear</li>\r\n<li>Unmanned Aerial Systems</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>Federal regulations require that all single item purchases costing more than $10,000 be tracked; therefore, purchases of items costing this amount will be limited to new or used 4x4 vehicles, which will be utilized as a Type 5/6/7 Wildland Engine -- as defined by the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG, <a href=\"https://www.

nwcg. gov/publications/pms200/equipment\">Equipment, PMS 200 | NWCG</a>) with a total cost of $60,000 or less, slip-on/skid units, pumps, and UTVs only. </p>\r\n<p>Due to high demand and limited funding, there is a five-year waiting period between the years a fire company is eligible to receive grants.

</p>\r\n<p>However, if a fire company received a $7,500 grant or less in the last five years, they are eligible for assistance one additional time -- as long as the two-year total does not exceed the maximum grant established for the program each year.

</p>\r\n<p>Since planning is the key to the efficient and effective use of equipment, personnel, and organization, priority will be given to fire companies which have established goals and objectives and have developed plans to meet them. </p>\r\n<h2>Questions? </h2>\r\n<p>If you have any questions, <a href=\"mailto:PaForester@pa.

gov\">contact</a> the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources​ Bureau of Forestry.

​​​<br>\r\n</p>\r\n"}}"> Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides financial, technical, and other assistance to state officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 in population to prevent, control, and suppress fires which threaten: Other improvements in rural areas The key objectives of this program are to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas.

Therefore, the selection of the participating agencies must be based on vulnerability and the adequacy of existing fire protection. This is a cost-share program. Financial assistance on any project during any fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures -- including expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations participating in the agreement.

The maximum grant for 2025 is $15,000. 2026 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Application Period: Monday, September 28, 2026 through Thurdsay, January 7, 2027. To follow Pennsylvania Management Directive 305.

20, all applicants will be required to agree to terms and conditions of funding during the application process. If awarded, the agreement of these terms and conditions will become the grant agreement of the applicant. The 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (PDF) provides information about approved grantees from 2023.

Pennsylvania fire company officers can apply for Volunteer Fire Assistance grants using the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Grant ​​Portal . Check the Directions for the Vo​lunteer Fire Assistance Grant Application (PDF) before beginning the process.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Eligibility Purchase of wildfire suppression equipment Mobile or portable radios Installation of dry hydrants Wildfire prevention and mitigation Certain projects involving the conversion and maintenance of federal excess vehicles received from the ​Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry and used for fire suppression A priority will be placed on projects that include the purchase of wildland fire suppression equipment and wildland fire protective gear.

Priority also will be given to fire companies which have established goals and objectives and have developed plans to meet them. Grants CANNOT be used for: Purchase of structural fire equipment or protective gear Supply hose larger than 2.

5 inches in diameter Routine maintenance of vehicles not received from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Fire police equipment and gear Search and rescue equipment and gear Federal regulations require that all single item purchases costing more than $10,000 be tracked; therefore, purchases of items costing this amount will be limited to new or used 4x4 vehicles, which will be utilized as a Type 5/6/7 Wildland Engine -- as defined by the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG, Equipment, PMS 200 | NWCG ) with a total cost of $60,000 or less, slip-on/skid units, pumps, and UTVs only.

Due to high demand and limited funding, there is a five-year waiting period between the years a fire company is eligible to receive grants. However, if a fire company received a $7,500 grant or less in the last five years, they are eligible for assistance one additional time -- as long as the two-year total does not exceed the maximum grant established for the program each year.

Since planning is the key to the efficient and effective use of equipment, personnel, and organization, priority will be given to fire companies which have established goals and objectives and have developed plans to meet them. If you have any questions, contact the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources​ Bureau of Forestry. ​​​ Apply for Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants for Fighting Wildfires