About
The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, makes funding available to rural fire departments. This federal funding is passed through and administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Grant Program is authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1990, (Farm Bill) and assists rural volunteer fire departments by providing cost-share grants for training, equipping, and organizing. Rural fire departments represent the first line of defense in coping with wildfires and other emergencies in rural areas and rural communities. These departments are charged with the protection of lives, homes, and business investments.
The VFC grant has been an excellent resource for local fire organizations, and we encourage your participation. These grants have certainly benefited all 56 counties within Montana.
Learn More
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 VFC 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 VFC 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 10 percent basis (90% VFC-10% match).
Financial assistance on any project requires a non-federal match for project expenditures. The funding must be matched on a 10 percent basis (90% VFC-10% match).
- Application materials can be found on the DNRC's Submittable portal at: 2024 VFC 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 May 18, 2024.
Contact Us
Rhea Blankenship
VFC/VFA Program Manager
rheablankenship@mt.gov
406.542.4267
VFC/VFA Program Manager
rheablankenship@mt.gov
406.542.4267