Preparing for Wildfires | TIFMAS Grant Assistance Program TFS

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRES

FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS: TIFMAS GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grant Assistance Program provides reimbursement grants to career fire departments and combination fire departments not eligible for grant assistance under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The program provides $1 million in grant assistance annually, with $800,000 dedicated to TIFMAS vehicles and $200,000 dedicated to all other grant categories.

FY 2019 Changes

Funding Meeting Summary: FY19 TIFMAS Meeting - January 24, 2019

TIFMAS Historical Funding Information

+ Eligibility

Those eligible include

Career fire departments that have no volunteer members and that are staffed with paid members only.
Recognized part-paid, part-volunteer fire departments operating on a not-for-profit basis, having 21 or more paid members.
Fire departments eligible for grants under the Rural VFD Assistance Program are not eligible for grants under the TIFMAS Grant Assistance Program.

Paid members are calculated based on the number of full-time paid and part-paid positions. Two part-paid positions are equivalent to one full-time paid position.

+ Apply for a TIFMAS Apparatus Grant

A TIFMAS apparatus grant awards 100 percent funding for a standardized NWCG Type I (Tactical Tender), Type III (Wildland Engine) or VI (Wildland Engine) vehicle. Use of the vehicle is governed by the terms set forth in the Supplemental Terms and Responsibilities Agreement (PDF, 108KB) between TFS and the fire department recipient.

Application

Complete Application for TIFMAS Grant Assistance - APPARATUS REQUEST (TFS-FO-430) (PDF, 209KB) and IRS Form W-9 (PDF, 116KB) and e-mail to tifmasgrants@tfs.tamu.edu
Faxed applications can also be accepted at: 979-845-6160. Please call 979-458-6505 to confirm your fax was received.

TIFMAS apparatus grants are approved in October of each year. Grant applications not approved in October automatically roll forward to the next TIFMAS funding meeting. They remain on file and active until approved or cancelled in writing by the applicant.

A department may have a maximum of two applications on file for TIFMAS apparatus (including applications associated with a previous award).

To revise an application, complete the Revision Request -- TIFMAS Program (TFS-FO-411) and submit it via email or fax to 979-845-6160.

+ Apply for a TIFMAS Training Tuition Grant

TIFMAS grants for training tuition reimburse 100% of the actual cost of tuition not to exceed $129 per day up to a maximum of $645 per trainee per school. The ANNUAL MAXIMUM for all training tuition grant assistance per department is $12,500.

To apply, please complete and submit the following forms by email (preferred), mail, or fax.

Application for TIFMAS Grant Assistance - TRAINING TUITION (TFS-FO-420) (PDF, 223KB)
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (W9)

To revise your application, complete the Revision Request -- TIFMAS Program (TFS-FO-411) and submit it via email or fax it to 979-845-6160.

TIFMAS Grant Assistance Program Guidelines For Training Tuition Grant Assistance (PDF, 177KB)

IMPORTANT: A W-9form must accompany each application. Both forms must be signed and dated.

+ Additional Guidelines

Applicant Rating Guide - Apparatus (PDF, 32KB)

Branch Assignments by County (PDF, 79KB)

TIFMAS Application Review Schedule (PDF, 95KB)

+ Contact

Texas A&M Forest Service
200 Technology Way, Ste 1162
College Station, Texas 77845
Attn: TIFMAS Grants

Phone: (979) 458-6505
Fax: (979) 845-6160
Email: tifmasgrants@tfs.tamu.edu

RELATED INFORMATION

FIRE DANGER
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE
TIFMAS HISTORICAL FUNDING INFORMATION

RURAL VFD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Texas A&M Forest Service will meet to consider changes to the Rural VFD Assistance Program (RVFDAP-HB 2604) procedures for FY 2020. The agency welcomes your comments, questions, or suggestions on items related to the Rural VFD Assistance Program. Attendance is not required at the public meeting in order to submit comments or suggestions.

TEXAS RANCH WILDFIRE PROGRAM

How are you preparing your ranch for a possible wildfire? Check out our new Texas Ranch Wildfire Program created to work with landowners to identify priority areas, boundaries and other factors on their ranches to allow firefighters to make tactical decisions that reflect each landowner's priorities.

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Research reinforces what much of the forestry community already knows — that trees have a positive impact on human health. Learn more.

NEWSROOM

District Forester Jason Ellis wins 2019 Forest Stewardship Forester Award
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RURAL VFD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

TEXAS RANCH WILDFIRE PROGRAM

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

Research reinforces what much of the forestry community already knows — that trees have a positive impact on human health. Learn more.

NEWSROOM

6/18/2019 7:30:00 PM
District Forester Jason Ellis wins 2019 Forest Stewardship Forester Award
Jason Ellis, Jacksonville District Forester for Texas A&M Forest Service, was awarded the 2019 Forest Stewardship Forester Award by the USDA Forest Service Southern Region and the Southern Group of State Foresters. Throughout his career, Ellis has consistently excelled at helping rural, private landowners achieve sustainable management of their forested lands throughout his district.

5/30/2019 8:05:00 PM
Fort Worth Braces Regional Champion Trees for Tree-Killing Pest
With the recent confirmation of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) in Tarrant County, the City of Fort Worth, ArborJet and Texas A&M Forest Service united to protect two regional champion ash trees, the regional champion green ash and the regional champion Texas ash, from the deadly pest.

5/22/2019 9:00:00 PM
Large scale wildlife habitat restoration project to happen on Jones State Forest
There will be a group of veterans from Team Rubicon on the William Goodrich Jones State Forest between May 25 through June 2 conducting restoration work to improve potential red-cockaded woodpecker nesting and foraging areas.

FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS: TIFMAS GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Application

RURAL VFD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

TEXAS RANCH WILDFIRE PROGRAM

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

NEWSROOM

RURAL VFD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

TEXAS RANCH WILDFIRE PROGRAM

HEALTHY TREES, HEALTHY LIVES

TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE

TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE