Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant

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.

APPROVED PROJECTS

• 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

 

UNAPPROVED PROJECTS

• 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 VFA funds.
• Structural PPE and equipment.
• Boots
• Medical supplies and equipment

• National Fire Incident Reporting (NFIRS) compliant by reporting ALL fire occurrences to NFIRS as required by Montana Law (ARM 23.12.402).
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
• Insurance coverage. Provide a current Certificate of Liability Insurance.
• At the time of application for a VFA grant, the applicant must be registered in Systems for Award Management (SAM) and hold an active registered Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
• Taxpayer/Federal Identification Number (TIN)/Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• 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.
• Financial assistance on any project requires a non-federal match for project expenditures. The funding must be matched on a 1:1 basis (50% VFA-50% match).

Purchase(s) must be made following receipt of the award. No purchase(s) may be made prior to the date listed on the VFA award will be eligible for cost-share assistance

Financial assistance on any project requires a non-federal match for project expenditures. The funding must be matched on a 1:1 percent basis (50% VFA-50% match).

• Application materials can be found on the DNRC's Submittable portal at: 2025 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 January 24, 2025.

Apply on Submittable