Project Grant 24DG11094200148

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded a $2,284,618 Project Grant under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698) to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) on August 7, 2024. This grant will fund a 5-year initiative (completion date of June 30, 2029) to enhance the capacity of Pennsylvania's volunteer fire departments to organize training and equip rural fire departments for wildfire prevention, control, and management across non-federal forest and rural lands in the state. Key activities will include hazardous fuels reduction, community wildfire protection planning, fire prevention education, incident management support, and building the overall firefighting capabilities of DCNR and local fire departments to mitigate wildfire risks and protect lives and property. As a state government entity, DCNR will administer this grant and may sub-award portions of the funding to local municipalities, land conservancies, and other stakeholders as part of the project.