Grant applications for the Volunteer Fire Assistance program will be accepted from March 12 to April 31.
The VFA program allows the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division to provide volunteer fire departments funding through the U.S. Forest Service. This funding is used to organize, train and equip fire departments in rural areas to prevent and suppress wildland fires.
Rural fire departments or organizations who buy fire suppression, education and prevention equipment can be reimbursed for the cost through these grant funds. The maximum grant this year is 50 percent of the project costs or $4,000, whichever is less. This grant can be used for either structural or wildland fire projects.
Eligibility requirements, administrative considerations, parameters for uses of VFA funding and the application can be found at http://wildlandfire.sd.gov/VFDquicklinks/vfdquick.aspx. All applications must be received by mail and postmarked no later than April 31. Grants will be awarded near the middle of May.
For more information, contact Jim Burk, assistant chief with SDWF at [email protected] or by calling 605-393-8055.
South Dakota Wildland Fire can be found on Twitter @SDWildlandFire and on Facebook by searching SD Wildland Fire.
Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.