PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management allocates $55,000 in Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) grants to more than 10 fire districts statewide. The grant funding supports critical purchases for rural agencies to help with personal protective equipment, training, and other needs to support state wildland firefighting efforts.
For the 2025 grant cycle, DFFM earmarked funding to Beaver Dam Little Field Fire District and Colorado City Fire Department as well as other rural departments throughout the state.
This funding cycle, agencies requested money for hand tools, including chainsaws, personal protection equipment, radios, and a portable water tank. Through the RFC program, DFFM provides 50% of the funding towards the purchases while the fire district or department matches the other half. The RFC program gives the state the opportunity to help smaller agencies with wildland firefighting needs that often times their budgets do not allow for.
In order to qualify for a RFC grant, eligible fire departments or districts must serve a community with a population of 10,000 or less. In addition, 80 percent of the department’s firefighting personnel must be of volunteer classification.
