The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant provides financial and technical to State Foresters in cooperative efforts to organize, train and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 population to prevent, control and suppress fires which threaten human life, livestock, wildlife, crops, pastures, orchards, woodlands, farmsteads, or 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.
Grants can be used for:
- Purchase of wildfire suppression equipment
- Wildfire protective gear
- Mobile or portable radios
- Installation of dry hydrants
- Wildfire prevention and mitigation
- Wildfire training
Funds may also be used for certain projects involving the conversion and maintenance of federal excess vehicles received from the 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.