The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) is pleased to offer the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program.
Donor Name: North Carolina Forest Service
State: North Carolina
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 12/05/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The ability for fire departments to purchase these items will increase the number of properly equipped firefighters in state and provide for increased firefighter safety as well as more efficient suppression operations. This program is for North Carolina fire departments serving a population of less than 10,000 people. This award program will be provided to qualifying departments chosen during the application process for purchasing authorized items for wildland firefighting.
Funding Information
The departments that are chosen for this program may receive a maximum of $5,000.
Uses of Funds
- Equipping wildland engines (tanks, pumps, hose up to 3”, hose reels, fittings, nozzles, etc.)
- Wildland PPE (Fire pants/shirts, gloves, brush jackets, nomex jumpsuits, hardhats, safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.).
- Wildland Fire Tools (fire rakes, shovels, combination tools, Pulaski’s, backpack pumps, chainsaws, leaf blowers, etc.)
Eligibility Criteria
In order for a Fire Department to be considered for this grant the following must be met.
- A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less is eligible.
- Area fire departments (fire districts, townships, etc.) may serve an aggregate population of greater than 10,000 as long as the service area of the fire department includes a rural area or a rural community having a population of 10,000 or less. The VFA funding must be used to benefit the rural population.
- A single county or town with a population over 10,000 which is served by two or more fire districts operating entirely within the bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a given fire department includes a rural area or a rural community or the population of the fire department’s jurisdiction is 10,000 or less. The VFA funding must be used for the rural area.
- A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 population. The VFA funding must be used only for the benefit of the rural population. Similarly, a single community with a population greater than 10,000, which also provide fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract, may also be eligible provided the VFA funding is used entirely to support the rural community.
- A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for VFA financial assistance.
- Fire Departments must be National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
For more information, visit NCFS.
