Grant and Assistance Programs

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Volunteer Fire Assistance and Rural Fire Assistance MS Word Grant Application

Cooperative Fire Protection Assistance Grants

The Cooperative Fire Protection Assistance (C F P A) program provides financial and technical assistance to rural fire departments (R F Ds) for the purpose of improving wildland firefighting capabilities. The C F PA Grants Program is comprised of two individual federal cost-share programs that are administered by the North Dakota Forest Service (N D F S).

General Services Administration Ordering Program information and ordering from can be downloaded here in PDF format. (345KB)

Volunteer Fire Assistance (V F A):

The V F A Program is a cost-share program overseen by the North Dakota Forest Service for the U S D A Forest Service. It provides financial and technical assistance to R F D s for the purposes of organizing, training, planning, and purchasing fire equipment. The applicant must match at least 50% of the total cost of the project from sources other than the federal government. This amount may be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contribution. The program has been in existence since 1975; in that time, the N D F S has provided in excess of $2.8 million of assistance to R F Ds.

Rural Fire Assistance (R F A):

R F A is a Department of the Interior financial assistance program administered by the N D F S on behalf of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management. It provides financial and technical assistance to R F Ds for the purposes of purchasing wildland fire training, wildfire clothing and equipment, and for prevention and awareness efforts. The applicant must match at least 10% of the total cost of the project from sources other than the federal government. This amount may be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contribution. 2002 marked the inaugural year of our agency delivering R F A; $182,683 has been provided to R F Ds through this program.

Each year between January and March, rural fire departments in North Dakota are asked to submit C F P A projects proposals. A Grants Review Committee, consisting of representatives from the North Dakota Firefighter's Association, State Fire Marshal, U S D A Forest Service, U S Department of Interior Fish & Wildlife Service, U S Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management and North Dakota Forest Service establishes program priorities annually based upon input from local fire departments. Grants are awarded to rural fire departments using an application and reimbursement process, based upon the year's established priorities.

For additional information, contact David Geyer (701) 328-9985 or e-mail David.Geyer@ndsu.edu.

Federal Excess Personal Property (F E P P)

Under the Federal Excess Personal Property (F E P P) Program, the U S D A Forest Service authorizes the North Dakota Forest Service to obtain excess federal vehicles and equipment and make that property available to rural fire departments at no charge. These fire departments then renovate and recondition the vehicles and equipment, making them suitable for firefighting purposes. Cost share is available for renovations through N D F S grants.

Since the program's inception in 1975, the North Dakota Forest Service has loaned over $8.1 million in firefighting equipment to R F D's throughout the state. Current inventory stands at 2550 items, including 332 fire vehicles.

For more information, contact John Christianson, F E P P Technician, at 701-228-3700 or email John.Christianson@ndsu.edu.

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