In The News
Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant
August 26, 2019
The South Carolina Forestry Commission administers the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants program in the Palmetto State, awarding varying amounts of financial assistance to rural/volunteer fire departments every year. The grants are used by the volunteer fire departments to organize, train and equip themselves to prevent and suppress wildfires.
The amount of the grants, which can be up to $5,000, varies based on need and is determined through a rigorous application and selection process.
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 will be given to those applying for the first time, assisting with SCFC Firewise Communities, purchasing communications equipment (especially radios), and needing to purchase equipment to outfit their federal excess equipment loaned or provided by SCFC.
VFA grant application deadline is October 1, 2019, so help out your department by applying for one of these grants today! Download the application forms and related information at http://www.trees.sc.gov/fgrants.htm.