Open now: Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA)/National Fire Plan (NFP) Grant from SC Forestry Commission

August 2, 2024

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is accepting applications for the 2024 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA)/National Fire Plan (NFP) Grant. This grant is often referred to as the "forestry" grant within the fire service. The application deadline is October 15, 2024. All applications must be post marked by the deadline date.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission administers the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants funded through the USDA Forest Service. The program offers 50/50 matching fund grants intended to increase firefighting capacity, especially of those fire departments serving communities in the wildland urban interface.

Fire departments serving rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible for the Volunteer Fire Assistance grants. The intent of the VFA/NFP grant is to help the rural volunteer fire departments meet the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) challenge in South Carolina. Through financial assistance in purchasing wildland firefighting equipment and making necessary training available, rural volunteer fire departments can more effectively and safely assist the Forestry Commission in dealing with wildland fires that threaten the rural developments and communities they serve.

Priority is given to departments that are:

• applying for the first time;
• purchasing a skid (slip-in) unit for a brush truck;
• purchasing wildland personal protective equipment (PPE: Nomex shirts, Nomex pants, Nomex coveralls, etc.);
• purchasing VHF radios (UHF / not 800);
• installing and maintaining dry hydrants;
• needing to purchase equipment to outfit their federal excess equipment loaned or provided by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Get more information and apply.