Download for free the official Pennsylvania state parks and forests app.

Resources for Volunteer Fire Departments

DCNR Bureau of Forestry has the authority to acquire excess federal equipment and assign that equipment to rural fire departments.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

The application period 2013 grants will open February 20, 2013 and close on May 23, 2013

What Fire Company Officers Need to Know

Federal Excess Property Program (FEPP) - Under FEPP DCNR Bureau of Forestry acquires excess federal equipment and assigns that equipment to rural fire departments. The Federal Government maintains title to property made available through FEPP and therefore the equipment is considered on loan to the receiving fire department. Only equipment used for fire suppression activities is available through this program. DCNR will license FEPP vehicles for participating fire departments.

Department of Defense (DoD) Firefighter Property Program - DCNR Bureau of Forestry acquires excess military equipment and transfers the equipment to fire departments and emergency service agencies. A certificate to obtain title will be made available to recipients of the equipment once the equipment is converted and ready to be placed in service. Fire departments are responsible for licensing these vehicles.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized to provide financial, technical and other assistance to state officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 population to prevent, control and suppress fires which threaten human life, livestock, wildlife, crops, pastures, orchards, woodlands, farmsteads, or other improvements in rural areas. The key objectives of this program are to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. Therefore, the selection of the participating agencies must be based on vulnerability and the adequacy of existing fire protection.This is a cost-share program. Financial assistance on any project during any fiscal year cannot exceed 50% of the actual expenditures including expenditures of local, public and private nonprofit organizations participating in the agreement.