The volunteer fire assistance program in montana awards grant funds to benefit rural communities with populations of less than 10,000 people

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded $170,000 to the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation on July 24, 2025, under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698). This Project Grant supports the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program in Montana, which provides financial, technical, and related assistance to rural volunteer fire departments serving communities with populations under 10,000. The funding enables these departments to conduct wildfire preparedness and mobilization activities, including training, equipment procurement, and operational support for prevention, control, and suppression of fires on state and private lands.

Sub-award applications from eligible volunteer fire departments—those comprised entirely of volunteers or at least 80 percent volunteers—will be due in January 2026, with selections expected in February 2026. Fund recipients will utilize the grants to strengthen rural fire department response capabilities and infrastructure, with purchases anticipated to be completed and reimbursed by spring 2027. The project addresses critical resource constraints faced by rural volunteer fire departments and reduces wildfire risks that threaten lives, property, livestock, agricultural operations, timber resources, and other natural assets across Montana's rural communities through June 30, 2030.

The main goal is to improve the ability of these departments to put out wildfires on both state and private lands, ultimately saving lives and protecting property and natural resources. The funding will provide financial, technical, and related assistance to rural volunteer fire departments to conduct preparedness and mobilization activities, including training, equipping, and otherwise enabling response to requests for the prevention, control and suppression of fires occurring on rural lands and threatening rural communities. Funding is available for volunteer fire departments across montana that are comprised entirely of volunteer members or no less than 80 percent volunteer members and be located in a community with a population of less than 10,000. Sub-award applications for this funding will be due in january 2026, with selections expected in february. Purchases made by the volunteer fire departments under the terms of their sub-awards would likely be completed and reimbursed by spring 2027. This project is necessary because rural volunteer fire departments often have limited resources and face significant challenges in fighting wildfires, which can threaten lives, property, livestock, grazing lands, disrupt farm and ranch operations, impact commercial timber, and other natural resources. By providing funding and support, the project strengthens volunteer fire departments ability to respond to wildfires, reducing risks for rural communities.