Volunteer Fire Assistance
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry will be accepting applications for the FY 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program beginning September 1st through October 14th, 2022. Fire departments that serve a population of less than 10,000 will be eligible to apply to receive a VFA Wildland Fire Suppression Kit for their department to supplement their wildland firefighting capacity. These kits will consist of wildland firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools valued at approximately $3,000 per kit.
Before participating in this program, a fire department must be legally organized and have a current Memorandum of Understanding with the Division of Forestry that is dated after June 30, 2017. If you do not have one, please contact the Assistant District Forester in your area.
Kits will be awarded in November 2023.
| DATE | TASK |
|---|---|
| September 1 – October 13, 2023 | Applications for wildland fire suppression kits accepted. |
| October 16 – November 3, 2023 | Applications are reviewed and rated by Assistant District Foresters. |
| November 6, 2023 | Applications with departments approved to receive wildland fire suppression kits are forwarded to the VFA Grant Program Administrator. |
| January 8, 2024 | Departments are notified that they have been accepted to receive a wildland fire suppression kit. Supplies for Kits are ordered by the State Purchasing Specialist and shipped to districts. Arrangements are made with Departments to pick up kits once all materials have been received. |
| February 29, 2024 | Distribution of Kits to departments complete. |