This program provides assistance to state foresters to organize, train and equip fire departments in rural areas.

The purpose of the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program, formerly known as the Rural Community Fire Protection Program, is to provide federal financial, technical and other assistance to state foresters to organize, train and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities to prevent and suppress fires. A rural community is defined as having a population of 10,000 or less, or as defined below. This 10,000-population limit for participation in the VFA Program facilitates distribution of available VFA funds to the most needy fire departments. The funding must be matched on a 50-50 percent basis by non-federal dollars.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements for the use of VFA funding are as follows:

1. A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less is eligible (latest Census).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Fire Departments must be National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
7. A rural volunteer fire department is defined as “an organized, not for profit, fire protection organization that provides service primarily to a community or city with a population of 10,000 or less or to a rural area, as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, whose firefighting personnel is 80 percent or more volunteer, and that is recognized as a fire department by the laws of the State.” 16 U.S.C. 2106.

Preference will be given to VFA Grant applications for the purchase of wildland and structural personal protective gear, communications equipment, water handling equipment, and training. The purchase of vehicles and high value equipment will not be funded due to the limited amount of funds available.

Purchases made before the date of the VFA application are not eligible for reimbursement. Proof of Purchase documents, like invoices, and the Certificate of Expenditure Form [ Adobe PDF Document ] must be dated after the date of the VFA application.

VFA Federal Funding Applications are being made available to rural community Volunteer Fire Departments through the local Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service, Field Unit Offices.

The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) requires vendors to have valid form W-9s on file before releasing applicable payments. As a new vendor, you must file a W-9 with the Department of Financial Services. Failure to do so could result in the delay of payments. Please submit/update your W-9s electronically.

Application Information

To request application and/or assistance with completing the application, contact one of the following:

Your local Florida Forest Service field unit office OR

Kasie Crowe
(850) 681-5918
Kasie.Crowe@FDACS.gov

Florida Forest Service
Forest Protection Bureau

Or print and complete these forms:

• VFA Grant Application Form [ Adobe PDF Document ] 
• SF-424B Assurances [ 72.8 kB ]  
• AD-1047 Certification Regarding Debarment [ 22.8 kB ]

Mail applications to:
VFA Grants, Ste. H, Room 290
Florida Forest Service
3125 Conner Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650

After Grant Application Approval:
Fill out the Certificate of Expenditure Form [ Adobe PDF Document ], attach proof-of-purchases, and then mail to same address above.

Please make every effort to return the completed applications to the Forest Protection Bureau of the Florida Forest Service.  Grant applications will be approved regularly until funding is exhausted. Please take advantage of the program. You may participate multiple times in the grant process throughout the year. Grants run for one year after date of approval.