The Rural VFD Assistance Program provides funding to VFDs for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, and firefighter training. The program also provides grants for volunteer recruitment resources and emergency assistance following catastrophic events and declared states of disaster.
Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer fire department is also eligible if the number of paid members is 20 or fewer. The fire department must be a recognized fire department, located in and operating within a designated primary protection area as assigned by the county. Primary protection areas cannot overlap. The fire department must be in good standing with the State of Texas and the agency. To receive grants utilizing federal funds, receiving departments must meet additional federal requirements.
Established by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, the program has been successful in helping fire departments get the vehicles, training, and equipment they would otherwise not have had access to. Due to its usefulness to the fire service of Texas, the request volume far exceeds the program’s yearly funding. Therefore, while we would like to fund every request, it unfortunately takes some time to help every department in need.
Announcements
- Equipment Round 5 Awards (All Program Categories) – Tentatively Scheduled for August 2026
- Special Announcement – New Legislative Funding
- FY26 Program Updates and Changes
- 2026 TEEX Spring and Municipal Schools: Grants for meal cards and dorms are no longer offered.
Notice Regarding Grant Reimbursement Timelines
As reimbursement activity has increased, some departments have inquired about current processing timelines. Through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program alone, the agency has awarded more than $200 million in grants this fiscal year, compared to approximately $22 million in a typical year. This historic level of funding has resulted in a substantial increase in reimbursement activity and the number of requests requiring review and processing. The agency is currently anticipating reimbursement timelines of approximately 8-12 weeks for many requests, although processing times may vary based on submission volume, program requirements, and other factors. The agency remains committed to processing requests as quickly as possible while ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds and compliance with state requirements. We appreciate the patience and partnership of Texas fire departments as we work through this unprecedented level of program activity.
Active Declared State of Disaster Grants
- 253 – Heavy Rainfall and Flooding | 7/2/25 – 7/5/26
- 254 – Increased Fire Weather | 8/12/25 – 7/19/26
- 262 – Severe Storm | 4/24/26 – 7/5/26
FireConnect
Apply for training tuition, apparatus, equipment, and emergency grants through FireConnect, our home for fire department assistance programs.