On March 5, 2025, Texas A&M Forest Service held its second funding meeting for the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program in fiscal year 2025, awarding 94 grants totaling $2.1 million.
The grants will help volunteer fire departments across Texas purchase equipment such as dry hydrants, fire and rescue tools, personal protective equipment, and training aids.
“Texas’ local fire departments are the first to respond to wildfires and diverse emergencies and natural disasters,” said Jason Keiningham, Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department Head. “Through the Rural VFD Assistance Program, we do everything we can to ensure that their firefighting capacity is strong by helping them purchase necessary equipment.”
The Rural VFD Assistance Program, established in 2001, has awarded over $380 million to volunteer fire departments in Texas. In fiscal year 2024, the program provided more than $22.4 million in grants. The Texas Legislature allocated approximately $22 million to the program for fiscal year 2025.
The first funding meeting of fiscal year 2025 focused on grants for firefighting vehicles to ensure departments have adequate building time before grant expiration.
Volunteer fire departments can apply for grants through Texas A&M Forest Service’s web portal, FireConnect, which also provides access to a statewide fire department directory and a system for submitting incident reports.
Grants awarded at the first funding meeting of fiscal year 2025 for the Rural VFD Assistance Program included funding for firefighting vehicles. These awards are traditionally made at the first meeting of the fiscal year to ensure adequate building times before the grants expire.
The next funding meeting for the Rural VFD Assistance Program is tentatively scheduled to be held Aug. 6, 2025. View the grant recipient list at Second FY25 Funding Meeting
