Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Grant

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA) offers grants up to $25,000 annually to local fire departments in rural communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. Funded by the USDA Forest Service, the program aims to enhance firefighting capabilities and wildfire prevention efforts. Eligible applicants must provide a 10% cost-share match using state or local funds and will undergo a competitive review process. This initiative supports essential equipment and training for rural firefighters.

General Description
Local fire departments can obtain equipment for wildland firefighting and build their capacity for wildfire response with grants from the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA). The VFA provides grants to local governments with funds made available by the USDA Forest Service to help communities protect themselves from catastrophic wildland fires. The EMNRD Forestry Division administers the VFA grant program. A maximum of $25,000 per qualifying fire department per year is available for purposes that include equipping rural fire departments with wildland fire equipment, organizing rural fire departments for wildland fire response, and wildland fire prevention activities. Eligible applicants are municipalities, counties, and tribes that service rural communities with less than 10,000 people and can provide a 10 percent cost-share match using only state or local funds for the required match.Funding Agency
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) Southwest Region 3 provides this grant through New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources – Forestry Division that funds equipment and training grants through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant. This grant provides volunteer fire departments financial, technical, and related assistance to organize, train and equip local firefighters for the protection of rural areas and communities of 10,000 persons or less. These grants require applicants meet the eligibility criterion and pass a competitive and technical review of equipment and supply requests.