The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program allows the Nebraska Forest Service to cost share up to 50 percent of the purchase of fire fighting equipment with Nebraska fire districts. This program is announced each year in January.  Applications go to each fire chief in Nebraska.  There is a deadline announced for the return of applications to the Nebraska Forest Service (NFS).  Successful applicants are then notified by mail and have a period of time (usually around 3-4 months) to complete the project.  Once completed, the invoices for the purchased equipment are mailed in to NFS to verify that the purchases were made.  NFS then authorizes payment to the fire district for 50 percent of the purchase price up to the agreed upon limit.  Commonly purchase items in the VFA program are: protective clothing, communications equipment, fire prevention items, slip-in units, pumps, hose, nozzles, folding tanks and SCBA.  Large items like fire trucks, fire stations and town sirens do not qualify.

Additional resources:

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training through NEMA
• FEMA Independent Study Courses
• 2012 VFA application
• 2012 VFA instructions