Volunteer Fire Assistance

The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program, formerly known as the Rural Community Fire Protection Program, is a cost-share program that uses federal dollars to match local funds. The amount of available money varies from year to year, as it is an annual appropriation. Volunteer fire departments wishing to participate in the program must submit a completed cost-share application.

Applications are mailed late in the year, and fire districts have about a month to return them. The VFA Application PDF requires fire departments to answer questions to assist the Fire Management Program Staff determine the eligibility of a department to receive funds. The VFA Application Guide PDF is available to assist departments in completing their application.  Once eligibility has been established the Fire Management staff utilizes a systematic and quantitative rating system to determine which departments will receive funding. Qualifying departments will be "awarded" an amount depending upon a variety of variables, including how much Congress has allotted to this program. The Kansas Forest Service will provide a reimbursement of up to half of the "award" issued, hence the phrase "cost share".

Following notification of "award" receipt and amount, departments must purchase the equipment with their local funds. The departments must then submit an invoice from the equipment dealer describing the equipment purchased and cost. Upon receipt of this invoice the Kansas Forest Service will reimburse the department for half of the designated "award."

A cooperative agreement between participating fire departments and the Kansas Forest Service must exist in order to participate in this program.

For more information, please contact the Fire Management Coordinator.