USDA Awards $80 Million in Community Facilities Grants for 200 Rural Volunteer Fire Departments

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the award of $80 million in direct Community Facilities Grants and low-interest loans, delivering vital public safety capital to 200 volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service (EMS) districts in small rural communities nationwide.

Equipping Volunteer First Responders on the Front Lines

The funding packages provide up to $500,000 per volunteer department to replace 30-year-old frontline pumper engines with modern four-wheel-drive wildland brush trucks, purchase NFPA-certified structural firefighter turnout gear, and acquire digital thermal imaging cameras for search-and-rescue calls. The grants target small rural towns with populations under 5,000 that lack tax revenue to equip volunteer responders protecting farmland, grain elevators, and rural homes.

USDA leadership emphasized that volunteer firefighters are the backbone of rural emergency response, affirming that federal grants ensure first responders have reliable equipment to protect their neighbors and return home safely.

National Volunteer Fire Council Endorsement

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) strongly commended the grant deployment, highlighting that over 70% of the nation's fire service is staffed by dedicated volunteers.

Rural county emergency managers praised the inclusion of portable radio repeater systems for remote dead-zone coverage.

Equipment Delivery Schedule

New wildland firefighting brush trucks and protective gear will deploy to recipient rural stations in winter 2026.