Whatcom County Fire Protection District 1

Whatcom County Fire Protection District 1, based in Everson, Washington, is a local government entity that has established itself as a consistent recipient of federal grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) since July 2013, the district serves as a critical component of emergency response infrastructure for its jurisdiction. Through federal grant programs, the organization provides essential firefighting and emergency response services designed to enhance community safety and resilience.

Whatcom County Fire Protection District 1 has demonstrated significant success in securing federal grant awards across multiple FEMA programs that support its core mission of strengthening firefighting and emergency response capabilities. The district has received three substantial grants under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program (CFDA 97.083), totaling $2,661,666.20, with awards dated November 5, 2024 ($704,485.00) and March 22, 2025 ($1,957,181.20), both supporting staffing expansion and recruitment and retention initiatives. Additionally, the district has secured two grants under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (CFDA 97.044), including a $136,725.00 Project Grant awarded on September 27, 2025, which supports the procurement of critical equipment, specialized personnel training, and facility modifications to improve operational efficiency. A prior Assistance to Firefighters Grant awarded on September 2, 2021, further demonstrates the district's sustained engagement with FEMA's equipment and infrastructure support initiatives. The cumulative effect of these grants—totaling approximately $2.8 million across recent awards—enables Whatcom County Fire Protection District 1 to enhance its firefighting capabilities, strengthen emergency response infrastructure, improve staffing levels, and support the recruitment and retention of both career and volunteer firefighters to better serve the Everson community.