Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program Grant

Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Amount: US $500 - US $20,000
Last Updated: April 08, 2025

Summary

The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program offers crucial funding to California's rural fire departments for essential firefighting equipment and training. This federally funded initiative supports local agencies in acquiring personal protective equipment and improving training capabilities to ensure safety and compliance with national standards. With grant awards ranging from $500 to $20,000, the program emphasizes a dollar-for-dollar match requirement, allowing departments to enhance their firefighting resources and effectiveness in serving communities with populations of 10,000 or less.

Overview

Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program is a federally funded grant program that allows California to provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The VFC Program is not intended for major equipment (fire engines, vehicles, etc.) or Capital repairs. The VFC Program has a 50/50 match requirement which means that the applying department must be able to meet the intended grant award, dollar for dollar. Awards for departments are set at a minimum of $500 with a maximum of $20,000. Amounts may be adjusted based on the grant funding available. National Fire Protection Association 1977 and Personal Protective Equipment As a result of the recommendation from the 2003 Blue Ribbon Report to the Governor of California, CAL FIRE has included a section in the VFC grant application that states you are certifying that your wildland firefighters are fully equipped with appropriate, approved wildland fire response Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1977 Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting and are trained to a proficient level in the use of the PPE. Departments not currently in compliance with the NFPA 1977 standard for wildland firefighter safety clothing and equipment will only be considered for awards which bring their department into compliance with this standard. This year’s consideration for grant awards will place a higher priority for funding reimbursement of firefighter PPE purchases and associated training for those Departments not currently meeting the standard. How Funds Can Be Used Cost-share funds will be awarded to local governments to provide assistance to rural areas in upgrading their capability to organize, train, and equip local forces for fire protection. Awards will be limited to a minimum of $500 and a projected maximum of $20,000. Proposed projects should be compatible with existing protection of state, county, and local areas. The cost of the conversion of vehicles obtained through the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) to water tenders, engines, brush trucks, and equipment trucks may be funded under the VFC grant. Training of local fire forces in both wildfire and structural fire techniques is a primary goal of this grant. The program should include a basic training program of at least 40 hours. In addition, an advanced training course of at least 40 hours should be developed. Communications, for alarm systems and dispatch capabilities, should be considered an integral part of the rural fire department. Funds are available for the development and purchase of radio equipment for dispatching centers, vehicles and alert monitors, and pagers.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Funding for departments must meet at least one of the following qualifications:A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less.Area fire departments (fire districts, townships, etc.) may serve an aggregate population of greater than 10,000 as long as the service area of the fire department includes a rural area or a rural community having a population of 10,000 or less. The VFC funding must be used to benefit the rural population.A single county or town with a population over 10,000 which is served by two or more fire districts operating entirely within the bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a given fire department includes a rural area or a rural community or the population of the fire department's jurisdiction is 10,000 or less. The VFC funding must be used for the rural area.A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 population. Also a single community with a population greater than 10,000 which also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract may also be eligible provided the VFC funding is used entirely to support the rural community.

Ineligibility

A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for VFC financial assistance.Communities or agencies imposing strict boundary limits, i.e., excluding rural residents will not be considered in this program.The use of funds for new fire engines and other vehicles are not allowed.Requests for construction projects of any type are NOT fundable. Requests for HAZMAT, extrication, rescue, medical aid, and other non-fire training costs or materials are NOT fundable.