Rural Fire Capacity

Purpose: The Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Program is a Federally-funded grant program that allows California to provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The RFC Program is not intended for major equipment (fire engines, vehicles, etc) or Capital repairs. The RFC Program has a 50/50 match requirement which means that the applying department must be able to meet the intended grant award, dollar for dollar. Awards for departments are set at a minimum of $500 with a maximum of $20,000. Training of local fire forces in both wildfire and structural fire techniques is a primary goal of this grant. Communications, for alarm systems and dispatch capabilities, should be considered an integral part of the rural fire department. Funds are available for the development and purchase of radio equipment for dispatching centers, vehicles and alert monitors, and pagers. Requests for construction projects of any type are NOT fundable. Requests for HAZMAT, extrication, rescue, medical aid, and other non-fire training costs or materials are NOT fundable. ELIGIBILITY Funding for departments must meet at least one of the following qualifications: 1. A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less. 2. Area fire departments (fire districts, townships, etc.) may serve an aggregate population of greater than 10,000 as long as the service area of the fire department includes a rural area or a rural community having a population of 10,000 or less. The RFC funding must be used to benefit the rural population. 3. A single county or town with a population over 10,000 which is served by two or more fire districts operating entirely within the bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a given fire department includes a rural area or a rural community or the population of the fire department's jurisdiction is 10,000 or less. The RFC funding must be used for the rural area. 4. A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 population. Also a single community with a population greater than 10,000 which also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract may also be eligible provided the RFC funding is used entirely to support the rural community. A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for RFC financial assistance. Eligible Applicants: Fire Department must serve a rural area or community with a population of 10,000 or less. A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for RFC financial assistance. Please see Grant Description for detailed eligibility Eligible Geographies: Rural area/community with a population of 10,000 or less. Matching Funding: Awards are provided on a reimbursable basis. Recipients must complete the approved a1ward project(s) using local funds and then bill CAL FIRE in accordance with the award agreement in order to receive the award funds.

• PSCDisadvantaged Communities, Disaster Prevention & Relief

• Grant guidelines

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  megan.esfandiary@fire.ca.gov