Volunteer Fire Assistance

A rural fire department which is defined as "an organized, not for profit, fire protection organization that provides service primarily to a community or city with a population of 10,000 or less to a rural area, as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, whose firefighting personnel is 80 percent or more volunteer, and that is recognized as a fire department by the laws of the State. 16 U.S.C. 2106.

• Wildland Training for Department Personnel
• Wildland Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Wildland Equipment and Water Handling
• Radio Communications (P25 Compliant)
• Fire Department Organization and Planning. 
• Formation of a NEW rural or volunteer fire district

• Any single item costing $5,000 or more will not be eligible for grant funding consideration.
• Construction or improvement of fire stations for housing equipment, normal operational expenses and maintenance do not qualify for RFC funds.
• Structural PPE and equipment.

• National Fire Incident Reporting (NFIRS) compliant by reporting ALL fire occurrences to NFIRS as required by Montana Law (MCA 7-33-2201)
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
• At the time of application for a VFA grant, the applicant must hold an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
• Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions, Form AD-1048;
• Each Grantee must certify that no vendor or contractor debarred or suspended from being able to work under a federal grant, according to the terms of 2 CFR Part 180, has received any money under this grant project by signing the Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions, Form AD-1048.
• Taxpayer/Federal Identification Number (TIN).

Match for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant requires a 50/50 cost share match.

• Application materials can be found on the DNRC website at: 2023 VFA Application, or by calling (406) 542-4267
• On request an application can be sent by email or by USPS.
• Applications can be submitted via Submittable or sent DNRC VFA Grant Program Manager at rheablankenship@mt.gov.
• All applications are due no later than April 1, 2023