CFA Home

Grants

Forest Fire Protection (FFP) Grant

(ss. 26.145(1), (2), and (3), Wis. Stats.; ch. NR 47, subchapters I and VIII, Wis. Admin. Code)

*The 2009 FFP grant cycle is CLOSED -- Check back in May for information on the 2010 FFP grant cycle*
Recent Grants Awarded

Forest Fire Protection (FFP) grants are available to Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations. Grant funding is intended to expand the use of local fire departments to augment and strengthen the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) overall initial attack fire suppression capabilities on forest fires. By May 1 of each year, Wisconsin fire departments having a written fire suppression agreement on file with the DNR and county/area fire associations statewide receive notification that the FFP application cycle is open. The FFP program is a 50/50 cost-share grant program.

Who is Eligible to Apply?
  • Wisconsin fire departments that have an executed forest fire suppression agreement with the DNR.
  • Wisconsin county/area fire associations if a majority of the fire department members serve organized forest fire control areas designated by the DNR.
The FFP grant program has differing grant limits depending on the applicant.
Fire department applicants:
minimum grant: $750 ($1,500 total project costs)
maximum grant: $10,000 ($20,000 total project costs)
County/area fire associations:
 minimum grant: $5,000 ($10,000 total project costs)
maximum grant: $25,000 ($50,000 total project costs)

The FFP program provides grant funding for:
  • Personal Protective Equipment (must meet NFPA 1977 standards)
  • Forest Fire Training
  • Forest Fire Prevention
  • Forest Fire Suppression Tools, Equipment, Supplies and Materials
  • Dry Hydrants (water points)
  • Communication Equipment for Forest Fire Suppression or Protection
  • Mapping and numbering systems
  • Off-road all-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs, RTVs, UTVs) of ½ to 5 ton capacity that are used primarily for forest fire suppression (vehicles limited only to individual fire department applicants)

See FFP Eligible/Ineligible Items document for a comprehensive (although not all-inclusive) list.

Application due date: Applications must be postmarked on or before July 1 unless otherwise noted on the application.

What's New this Grant Cycle?

1. Significant changes in the types of projects that are eligible for FFP grant dollars have occurred. Only those items with a direct relationship to forest and wildland fire suppression will be considered. An up-to-date listing of FFP project category eligible and ineligible items is available. Major highlights include:

  • PPE Category: Boots & Helmets (with the exception of wildland hard hats) no longer eligible
  • Tools & Equipment Category: Class A foam & gels (USDA approved) limited to 50 gallons
  • Tools & Equipment Category: Pump up to and including 18 hp eligible (previous standard was 25 hp)
  • Hoses, nozzles, and appliances of a diameter no more than 1 inch eligible (previous standard was up to and including 1 3/4”)
  • Communications Category: Pagers no longer eligible
  • Communications Category: Radios limited to 2 mobiles/4 portables per department

2. The strict enforcement of the FFP project end date will continue this year. All grants awarded will have a project end date of April 15, 2010. Grant recipients must be prepared to carry out the project if a grant award contract is issued!

3. FFP application information continues to be available on-line! Wisconsin fire organizations can access the application form and more. Please note: If this electronic access creates a hardship for any fire organization, hard copies can be obtained by contacting the FFP grant manager (Eileen Trainor-608/267-0848).

4. The fillable, printable FFP Grant Application Form (4300-119) is still available for use! Although it cannot be saved, you now have a choice of filling it out on-line and printing it or you can just print off a copy and manually fill it out. Part 4 of the application form (Grant Funding Requested by Category/Itemized Budget) continues to allow the applicant to categorize, describe, and itemize project costs. Automatic calculations are built into this section so you don’t have to do the math!

Application Information

Award and Reimbursement Information

Additional Information

Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) takes seriously its responsibility to protect all confidential data that are collected as the DNR administers its programs. For DNR grant programs, “confidential data” typically includes:

  • Personal -- Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, signature
  • Financial -- Bank account numbers on cancelled checks and statements. Credit card numbers on submitted receipts. Account and credit balances or limits. Federal or Wisconsin tax returns.

If a grant is being issued to an individual, we need most of the personal data listed above before we can issue payments or reimbursements. This needed data comes to the DNR on completed W-9 forms. The DNR has a process to restrict access to and secure W-9 forms.

The DNR, however is often sent unnecessary confidential data that are attached to proofs of payment, receipts, or other documents in support of a reimbursement request. Please protect confidential data by blackening out – also called “redacting” – bank account numbers, credit card account numbers, and other confidential data before proofs of payment are sent to the DNR. Please do not redact check numbers from bank statements.

With each of us doing our part, we can protect confidential data and minimize identity theft.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.

FFP Grant Program Contacts:

Eileen Trainor, FFP Grant Manager
Department of Natural Resources-CF/2
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 267-0848
Fax: (608) 267-0496
E-mail: Eileen.Trainor@wisconsin.gov

Kathy Wells, FFP Grant Assistant
Department of Natural Resources-CF/2
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 266-0918
Fax: (608) 267-0496
E-mail: Kathy.Wells@wisconsin.gov

Christopher Klahn, Cooperative Forest Fire Specialist
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 801
Montello, WI 53949
Phone: (608) 297-2214
Fax: (608) 297-9336
E-mail: Christopher.Klahn@wisconsin.gov

Last Revised: Tuesday October 06 2009