VDOF 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 – to apply for a $500 grant, the volunteer fire department must be prepared to spend $1000 to receive a reimbursement of $500. Receipts marked paid will be required prior to reimbursement.
To Apply
Applicant should submit Form 4.31 Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Equipment Application and supporting forms (Form AD-1048, Standard Form 424B, and Form W9) to the VDOF Fire and Emergency Response Branch.
Application Deadline
March 31 each year
Complete all forms in full and submit to:
Virginia Department of Forestry
Fire and Emergency Response Branch – VFA Grants
900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | document-category_hfilter | Media_hfilter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion – Lower Tier Covered Transactions | AD-1048 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance | form | |
 | Forestry Grant Program Request for Reimbursement | 42 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance | form | |
| Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts) | W-9 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-health forest-management urban-and-community-forestry water-quality | form | |
| SF-424B – Assurances for Non-Construction Programs | Federal-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. | Form | View | finance financial-assistance | form |
| Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Equipment Application | 4.31 | Form | View | financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response fire-and-emergency-response | form |
A variety of financial assistance programs exist through VDOF 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.