On December 4th, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced $20 million in available grant funds for local governments to strengthen their response to wildfire by converting vehicles to wildland fire engines. The funding can be used by local governments that provide emergency services to areas with population of 50,000 or less, and can be used to purchase slip-on tanker units, which allow quick conversion of other vehicles to be operated as wildland fire engines.
The available funds are the second round of a pilot program that began in September under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $50 million total for the program. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $500,000. Visit the DOI website for more information or contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.