Rural fire departments play a critical role in protecting these communities but often face challenges related to limited resources and outdated equipment

The Idaho Department of Lands received a $245,000 Project Grant awarded on August 1, 2025, under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 1. The grant funds the purchase and provision of essential firefighting equipment to fire service organizations serving rural Idaho communities with populations under 10,000. Approximately half of Idaho's population resides in these eligible rural areas, towns, and small cities where volunteer and rural fire departments face significant resource constraints and operational readiness challenges.

The funded equipment and resources will be distributed to fire service organizations throughout Idaho, with project coordination based at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Cache and Coeur d'Alene Staff Office. By equipping rural fire departments with modern firefighting equipment, this investment directly enhances operational readiness and wildfire suppression capacity in high-risk areas while improving firefighter safety across the state. Project activities are scheduled to occur between 2025 and 2030, with completion contingent upon wildland fire season severity.

Roughly half of idaho's population lives in rural areas, small cities, or towns with populations under 10,000. This funding will be used to address critical preparedness needs by purchasing and providing essential firefighting equipment to fire service organizations. These investments will improve their operational readiness and enhance their capacity to effectively suppress wildfires in high-risk, rural areas. This work will take place at the coeur d'alene fire cache, coeur d'alene staff office, and throughout the state of idaho in rural areas, cities, or towns with a population of less than 10,000. Project activities are scheduled to take place between 2025 and 2030 with completion being contingent upon wildland fire season severity. This program is vital for the citizens of idaho, as approximately half of the states population resides in rural areas eligible for support through the volunteer fire capacity grant. This program is a priority because IT strengthens not only preparedness and response capacity, but also the overall safety of the firefighters and the communities they protect.