The New York State Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program is made available by Governor Kathy Hochul and administered by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). Applications for up to $1,000,000 will be accepted to support construction, renovation, or purchase costs of critical facilities or the purchase of allowable fire service equipment to upgrade and improve facilities and response capabilities of volunteer fire departments. There is a total of $25 million available under this grant program.

Funds will be awarded to support volunteer fire departments with 100% volunteer memberships. The three primary objectives of this grant are to: 1) Ensure that Fire Stations and Fire Training Facilities within New York State are safe, structurally sound, meet current building codes and regulations, and support or promote effective and safe firefighting practices; 2) Support volunteer firefighter safety and health and wellness by providing adequate and up-to-date equipment to include personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination equipment & supplies, and effective exhaust removal systems; 3) Support the consolidation of fire service resources through regionalization efforts to expand above and beyond jurisdictional boundaries to further enhance local, county and statewide response efforts.

All New York State volunteer fire departments with 100% volunteer membership, as well as counties and municipalities representing those volunteer fire departments are eligible to apply for up to $1,000,000 if applying for construction/renovation/facility purchase projects or up to $500,000 if applying for equipment projects.

Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. through the DHSES electronic grants management system (E-Grants).

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the DHSES website at www.dhses.ny.gov/state-funded-programs or contact DHSES’s Grants Hotline at (866) 837-9133.