Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations can now apply for Forest Fire Protection grants from the Department of Natural Resources. These grants help strengthen local fire departments’ and county or area fire organizations’ ability to assist the DNR forestry staff in suppression of forest fires. 

The grant program provides funds for the purchase of forest fire suppression equipment and training, including: personal protective equipment, forest fire training, forest fire prevention, forest fire tools and equipment, communication equipment, dry hydrant installation, rural fire mapping and off-road, all-wheel drive, initial-attack vehicles. This is a 50 percent cost-share reimbursement grant program.

Fire department grant limits are: Minimum grant: $750 ($1,500 total project costs); Maximum grant: $10,000 ($20,000 total project costs).

County/area fire association grant limits are: Minimum grant: $5,000 ($10,000 total project costs); Maximum grant: $25,000 ($50,000 total project costs).

All applications are due by July 1, 2015. Awards are announced and grant projects begin on October 1, 2015. To learn more about the Forest Fire Protection Grant Program search the DNR website for keywords “Fire grant.”