This award supports state and local rural fire prevention and control programs, including those of forest fire compacts, by providing financial support for fire prevention, control, suppression,…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded $1.549 million to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698) to support rural fire prevention, control, and suppression activities across Minnesota. The award, effective June 11, 2025, through September 30, 2029, provides financial resources for fire prevention and control programs, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed fire implementation on non-federal forest and rural lands throughout the state.

The funded activities encompass direct assistance to non-federal land managers, private forest landowners, and municipalities to enhance wildfire response capacity and reduce fire risk. Specifically, the grant supports preparedness activities including firefighter training, equipment acquisition, and mobilization readiness initiatives that enable state and local firefighting agencies to respond to fire suppression requests. By promoting landscape-scale fire management and resilient forest conditions, this award advances the Forest Service's Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy while strengthening working relationships and service excellence among state, local, and private fire management partners in Minnesota.

This award supports state and local rural fire prevention and control programs, including those of forest fire compacts, by providing financial support for fire prevention, control, suppression, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed fire. Funding is also authorized to help conduct preparedness activities, including training, equipping, and otherwise enabling state and local firefighting agencies to respond to requests for fire suppression assistance. Funding provided through this program promotes mobilization readiness for efficient suppression of wildfires on all state and private lands to help maintain resilient forests and promote working relationships and service excellence. Through this award, direct assistance is provided to non-federal land managers, private forest landowners, and municipalities to fight fires and reduce fire risk in minnesota.