Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program
Forecasted
The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program supports rural fire departments with equipment, training, and dry hydrants to strengthen wildfire prevention and suppression.
Funder: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $1,000–$3,500; 50/50 match, paid by reimbursement
Summary: Supports equipment, training, and dry hydrants that help rural fire departments prevent and suppress wildfires.
Key Information: Funding must benefit a rural area or community with a population of 10,000 or less.
Description
The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program helps fire departments improve their capacity to prevent and suppress wildfires in rural areas. Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is provided to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Forest Environment (DFE) Forest Fire Program. DFE administers grants for forest-fire equipment and training.
Eligible purchases include wildland protective equipment, pumps, communications equipment, tools, Class A foam and application equipment, and dry hydrants. Dry hydrants can improve access to firefighting water where conventional hydrants are absent or drinking-water systems cannot supply the flows needed for suppression.
