Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program

DOF provides assistance through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program. The program provides a 50% cost reimbursement for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, and equipment for rural volunteer fire departments. As a key cooperator in the suppression of nearly every Virginia wildfire, this program allows the agency to provide critically-needed federal funding to directly support fire departments in the Commonwealth.

These grants are “50-50” matched grants. This means that grant approvals provide a 50% match of the actual amount expended for the items approved, up to the total approval amount of the grant. For example, to apply for a $1500 grant under the VFA program, the volunteer fire department must be prepared to spend $3000 to receive a reimbursement of $1500 following grant approval. Receipts marked “PAID” will be required prior to any reimbursement of the approved amount. Note that Virginia Department of Forestry is not allowed to provide full or partial grant funding for any one piece of equipment over $5,000 in cost.

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant period opens February 15.

To Apply

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ACTION REQUIRED TO RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FROM DOF:

Previously, the federal government used the DUNS number to manage entities applying for grants. In April 2022, the federal government replaced DUNS with the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Existing grant recipients and new applicants must obtain a UEI to apply for funding going forward.

To get your UEI, register with SAM.gov. If you are already registered, your UEI has been assigned. Follow this guide to find your UEI. Additional support can be found here.

Don’t wait for the grant cycle, get your UEI now.

Applications are accepted via the System Access Portal for Forestry Grants.

(Applicants must have their unique UEI number before beginning this process.)

Application Deadline

Deadline March 31 annually.


Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion – Lower Tier Covered TransactionsAD-1048Viewfinance financial-assistanceform
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts)
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts)W-9Viewfinance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management fire-and-emergency-response forest-health forest-management urban-and-community-forestry water-qualityform
SF-424B - Assurances for Non-Construction Programs
SF-424B – Assurances for Non-Construction ProgramsFederal-SF-424B

This links to a federal form used for grants. Click View to download the form and then open the form manually in Acrobat Reader. The form has trouble opening directly in Chrome.

Viewfinance financial-assistanceform
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Contract Signing
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Contract Signing

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with contract signing.

Viewfinance financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-management urban-and-community-forestryuser-guide
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Filing a Claim
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Filing a Claim

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with filing a claim.

Viewfinance financial-assistanceuser-guide
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Registration User Guide
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Registration User Guide

System Access Portal User Guide for registering to use the grants system.

Viewfinancial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance fire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestry financeuser-guide
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Requesting a Contract Amendment
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Requesting a Contract Amendment

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with requesting a contract amendment.

Viewfinance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-managementuser-guide
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants.

Viewfinancial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response fire-and-emergency-responseuser-guide

A variety of financial assistance programs exist through DOF and partner agencies for wildfire preparation and suppression, as well as forest management activities.

Explore All Financial Assistance Programs


Contact Us

For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.