Volunteer Fire Capacity Program
General information
Funding agency
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF)
Status
Future Rounds Anticipated
Description
Assists fire departments with purchasing wildland fire equipment and personal protective equipment.
Contact
Terri Teller, terri.teller@maine.gov
Funding details
Match required
Yes
Match description
50% match required
Funding application timeline
Applications close
Future rounds
Opens annually
Grant eligibility
Eligible applicant description
- A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less is eligible. This will be based on the 2020 census data.
- A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that exclusively serves a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 population. The VFC funding must be used only for the benefit of that rural population. Similarly, a single community with a population greater than 10,000 which also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract may also be eligible provided the VFC funding is used entirely to support the rural community.
- A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for VFC financial assistance.
- Fire Departments and municipalities must be NIMS compliant.
- Unorganized towns, homeowner associations and plantations without fire departments are not eligible unless they apply through their contracted fire department.
Eligibility requirements
Must be in a rural community. A rural community is defined as having 10,000 or less population.
Project categorization
Project type
Climate Planning and Resilience
Community and Economic Development
Project subcategory
Fire/EMS
Wildfire
Project stage
Implementation
Other
Last updated: December 20, 2025