Federal Grant Award Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8 (Southern Region), awarded $107,446 to the South Carolina Forestry Commission on July 13, 2026, under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698). This five-year project grant, scheduled for completion by July 12, 2031, provides comprehensive support to South Carolina's volunteer and rural fire departments to enhance wildfire response capacity and firefighter safety. The funding delivers wildland firefighting equipment, protective clothing, communications gear, slip-on water units, and hand tools to equipping departments for effective wildfire suppression. The award also supports federal excess personal property distribution programs and firefighter property programs, enabling cost-effective equipment access for rural fire services.

Additionally, the grant funds improvements to rural water supply infrastructure critical for wildfire response operations, strengthening local preparedness across South Carolina's rural communities. As the state's lead forestry agency and a primary recipient of USDA Forest Service funding, the South Carolina Forestry Commission administers this project to build fire management capacity, enhance operational safety, and ensure rural departments have adequate resources for wildfire prevention, control, and suppression activities on non-federal lands.