California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is soliciting applications from fire departments in rural areas and communities with a population of 10,000 or less, for awards under the Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Program of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978.
Donor Name: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
State: California
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/04/2022
Size of the Grant: $500-$20,000
Details:
The Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Program is a Federally-funded grant program that allows California to provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The RFC Program is not intended for major equipment (fire engines, vehicles, etc) or Capital repairs. The RFC Program has a 50/50 match requirement which means that the applying department must be able to meet the intended grant award, dollar for dollar.
How Funds Can Be Used
- Cost-share funds will be awarded to local governments to provide assistance to rural areas in upgrading their capability to organize, train, and equip local forces for fire protection Further assistance may be provided through loans from other sources of Federal funds for purchase of major items of equipment and facilities.
- Proposed projects should be compatible with existing protection of state, county, and local areas. Communities or agencies imposing strict boundary limits, i.e., excluding rural residents will not be considered in this program.
- The use of funds for new fire engines and other vehicles are not allowed. However, the cost of the conversion of vehicles obtained through the Federal Excess Personal
- Property Program (FEPP) to water tenders, engines, brush trucks, and equipment trucks may be funded under the RFC grant.
- Training of local fire forces in both wildfire and structural fire techniques is a primary goal of this grant. The program should include a basic training program of at least 40 hours. In addition, an advanced training course of at least 40 hours should be developed.
- Communications, for alarm systems and dispatch capabilities, should be considered an integral part of the rural fire department. Funds are available for the development and purchase of radio equipment for dispatching centers, vehicles and alert monitors, and pagers.
Funding Information
- Awards will be limited to a minimum of $500 and a projected maximum of $20,000.
Eligibility Criteria
Funding for departments must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
- A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less.
- 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 RFC 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 RFC 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. Also a single community with a population greater than 10,000 which also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract may also be eligible provided the RFC 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 RFC financial assistance.
For more information, visit Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Grant Program.
