Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA)
Federal cost-share funding to help rural and volunteer fire departments organize, train, and equip for wildland fire prevention and suppression. Commonly funds wildland PPE, hand tools, hoses, communications gear, training, and conversion of federal excess vehicles. Not for structural-only equipment, apparatus purchase, EMS, or hazmat.
Who it is for
Fire departments that are largely volunteer (often 80 percent or more) and serve a rural area or community of 10,000 or fewer. A department serving a larger area can still qualify if it covers a rural community under 10,000, with funds used only for the rural portion.
Department types: Volunteer, Combination
An honest note on fit
The most widely available federal program for small rural volunteer departments with wildland exposure, precisely because every state runs a version. Awards are modest and limited to wildland use, so it suits gear and training, not apparatus or structural-only needs. Look for your state's specific program name, since most states rebrand it.
Before you start
How you apply: Apply through your state.
You do not apply to the USDA Forest Service directly. The Forest Service passes VFA funds to each state's forestry agency, which runs its own application and sets the cap and match. Apply through your state forestry agency. Note that many states rename the program (for example California's Volunteer Fire Capacity, Arizona's Rural Fire Capacity), so look for your state's version.
Match required: Yes, usually 50/50, meaning the department is reimbursed up to half of an eligible purchase. A few states set a lower match. The match generally cannot come from other federal funds.
How to apply
- Identify your state forestry agency, the body that administers VFA in your state (it may use a different program name).
- Confirm your department qualifies: largely volunteer and serving a rural community of 10,000 or fewer.
- Watch for the state's annual application window, which is competitive and often only a few weeks.
- Register in any state vendor or grant system required (varies by state), and prepare a project for eligible wildland items or training.
- Submit to the state forestry agency before the deadline, and plan for the cost-share since VFA reimburses a share after you purchase.
Deadline: Annual, but the window is set by each state forestry agency and varies widely. Availability depends on the federal allocation each year. Check your state forestry agency for the current window. (Annual cycle)
Funding: Small, cost-share awards. Per-department caps are set by each state and commonly range from about $3,500 up to roughly $20,000, with a 50 percent match in most states (a few use a lower match).
Verified as of 2026-05-31. Programs are checked periodically against their official source. Funding details and deadlines change. Confirm the current requirements on the official program page before you apply.