Press Release  DCR Awards Nearly $117,000 to Rural and Volunteer Fire Departments Across Massachusetts

NEW BRAINTREE — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced it has awarded $117,000 to 43 rural, call, or volunteer fire departments across Massachusetts through the Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program. The funding will help smaller departments train personnel, prevent forest fires and enhance community safety.

“The VFC grants provide critical funding to rural fire departments across Massachusetts, enabling them to invest in the training and equipment they need to quickly and effectively respond to wildfires,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “As a former mayor, I know firsthand the importance of partnerships between federal, state, and municipal entities. These grants are a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together, ensuring that we can protect our natural resources and continue to provide safe outdoor spaces.”

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration leads in recognizing the dedication of our firefighters and I especially appreciate knowing that our rural communities are so well protected,” said Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi. “Congratulations to the towns and thank you firefighters.”

VFC grants are only eligible to municipalities with a population of 10,000 or lower that are home to community volunteer fire departments responding to wildfires. To be considered for a VFC grant, fire departments must be made up of at least 80 percent call or volunteer firefighters, be a state-recognized fire department, and be National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant. Many of the communities receiving VFA funds are designated high-risk areas, where local firefighters partner with federal firefighting agencies to respond to wildfires.

“The Volunteer Fire Capacity Grants are examples of the Healy-Driscoll Administration’s continuing commitment to partner with federal agencies like the US Forest Service in helping rural and volunteer fire departments enhance their ability to provide public safety,” said DCR Chief Fire Warden Dave Celino. “The historic statewide wildfire activity last fall showed the need for and the value of this collaborative grant effort in support of our rural fire departments, who are the first line of defense in response to these incidents.”

This year’s awards represented seven additional communities and nearly $30,000 in funding over last year’s program. The VFC program is authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and administered by DCR on a 50 percent reimbursement basis.

Towns that received an award from this year’s program are:

“In small towns like those receiving grants today, every dollar makes a difference,” said State Senator Peter Durant. “Departments that rely on volunteer firefighters don’t often have funding for equipment or training, yet they face the same dangerous situations as firefighters in larger communities - sometimes more-so because of a lack of staffing. These funds will allow these departments to be better equipped and trained when they respond to protect the lives and property of their neighbors.”

Last fall Massachusetts experienced an unprecedented level of a of wildfire activity, with the DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry reporting wildfire occurrence increased by roughly 1,200% during the months of October and November. This accounted for roughly 1,300 separate wildfires that burned across the state. To learn more about the Volunteer Fire Capacity Program, please visit DCR’s VFC grant webpage. 

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