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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)

*FFP Grant Updates*


• 2011 FFP Grant Recipients Announced! Attention recipients: Watch mail for grant award documents! Signed documents must be returned no later than OCTOBER 15, 2011! Project start date: 10/1/11 -- Project end date: 4/16/12

• 2011 FFP Grant Application cycle is now CLOSED. Check back in May for information on the 2012 FFP grant cycle.


Click below to get to the information you need quickly:

  1. Purpose
  2. Who is Eligible to Apply
  3. Funding Limits
  4. Eligible Projects
  5. Application Deadline
  6. What's New/Grant Basics
  7. FFP Timeline
  8. Application Information
  9. Award and Reimbursement Information
  10. Additional Information
  11. Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data
  12. FFP Grant Program Contacts

Purpose:

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 and county/area fire associations statewide receive notification that the FFP application cycle is open. The FFP program is a 50/50 cost-share reimbursement 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. Note: New fire suppression agreements must be executed on or before July 1.

Funding Limits

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)

Eligible Projects


The FFP program provides grant funding for:
  • Personal Protective Equipment (must meet NFPA 1977 standards)
  • Forest Fire Training
  • Forest Fire Prevention and Wildland Urban Interface
  • Forest Fire Suppression Tools, Equipment, Supplies and Materials
  • Radio Reprogramming
  • Communication Equipment for Forest Fire Suppression or Protection
  • Dry Hydrants (water points)
  • Mapping, GPS
  • 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 Deadline

Application due date: Applications must be postmarked on or before July 1 unless otherwise noted on the application. If mailing close to the deadline date, be sure to have the Post Office hand cancel the envelope.

What's New this Grant Cycle?

1. This year, DNR and the Fire Department Advisory Council recognized the growing communication needs of Wisconsin fire departments by adding a new category -- RADIO REPROGRAMMING. Fire departments can now apply for funds to assist with radio reprogramming needs up to a maximum of $500 ($250 in grant funds). This new category, as well as the Communication Equipment category, were also deemed higher priority categories ahead of a newly-created category for dry hydrants. (The method of funding by score and then by the highest priority category is more fully explained on page 3 of the application letter.) Hopefully, this year’s changes will allow interested fire departments to receive funding to better address communication challenges.

2. The updated list of FFP eligible and ineligible items reflect this year’s changes. Be sure to discard any prior year grant application materials, particularly eligibility lists! Many of the items that were considered “eligible” in prior year grant cycles may no longer be eligible!

    Other highlights worth repeating:
  • PPE Category: Wildland hard hats & chainsaw helmets are eligible

  • Tools & Equipment Category:
    • Class A foam & gels (USDA approved) limited to 50 gallons
    • Pump up to and including 18 hp eligible
    • Hoses, nozzles, and appliances of a diameter no more than 1 inch eligible
  • Communications Category:
    • Radios limited to 2 mobiles/4 portables(handhelds) per department; radios must meet eligibility criteria defined on eligibility list (e.g., radios must meet P25 standard digital/analog)
    • Pagers not eligible

3. The strict enforcement of the FFP project end date continues. All grants awarded will have a project end date of April 15, 2012. Grant recipients must be prepared to carry out the project if a grant award contract is issued!

4. 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 an FFP grant manager (Eileen Trainor-608/267-0848 or Kathy Wells-608/266-0918).

5. The fillable, printable FFP Grant Application Form (4300-119) is still available for use! Although it cannot be saved, you can fill it out on-line and print 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! Be sure to add a brief, concise project description.

FFP Timeline

July 1 Applications Due
July-August-September Applications reviewed / ranked / final funding decisions made
October Awards announced - Projects begin
April 15 Project end date

Application Information

Award and Reimbursement Information

Additional Information

Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data

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: Friday September 30 2011