Success Stories
Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant
The competitive $18-million Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant was open to local governments, special districts, structural fire service agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
This grant funds wildfire risk reduction projects, equipment, and staff. These projects will help protect people, property, and communities, preparing communities for wildfire impacts and creating a more fire-adapted Oregon.
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2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant
The $6-million 2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant funded local fire agencies to hire firefighters for the fire season.
This additional capacity allows fire agencies to respond to other calls, improving response times, and ultimately saving lives.
Local fire agencies could apply for up to $35,000 to hire additional firefighters using the current district or department staffing model.
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Past Investments
Explore how the Oregon State Fire Marshal has been investing in communities to better prepare them for wildfires. Below you can learn about the different ways the investments are helping, like improving infrastructure and connecting communities. These programs show our commitment to keeping people and property safe from wildfires. Each investment has made communities more resilient and ready to face the challenges of wildfires.
2021 Wildland Urban Interface Assistance Grant
In January 2021, the Oregon Legislature Emergency Board granted $4.9 million to the OSFM to distribute to the Oregon fire service. The goal was to improve the capacity and capability of fire protection districts and fire departments across Oregon to protect communities and play a pivotal role in wildland fire prevention and suppression in the WUI.
This grant was administered as a pass-through award for fire agencies with priority for those impacted by the 2020 fire season and underrepresented and underserved communities, although all Oregon fire jurisdictions were eligible to receive funding. For more information,
click here.
2022 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant
As part of the OSFM's Response Ready Oregon Initiative, $6 million in grant funding was available to Oregon's 306 local fire districts and departments to hire additional staff during the 2022 wildfire season. Local fire agencies could request up to $35,000. Agencies used the funds to expand capacity using their current staffing model and pay scale.
2023 Oregon Fire Service Capacity Program
The competitive Oregon Fire Service Capacity Program was for small- to medium-sized agencies that needed more permanent firefighters and fire prevention staff. This grant was available to Oregon's local fire districts and departments for funds to support up to two firefighters and two fire prevention personnel.
This funding increased local on-duty capacity throughout the next three years; allowed agencies to quickly mobilize to fires at the local, regional, and state (conflagration) levels; and better prepared communities to survive wildfires. More on-duty firefighters keep fires small before they can impact communities. Applications closed on November 30, 2022, and awards were announced in May 2023.
2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant
The $6-million 2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant funded local fire agencies to hire firefighters for the fire season. This additional capacity allows fire agencies to respond to other calls, improving response times, and ultimately saving lives. Local fire agencies could apply for up to $35,000 to hire additional firefighters using the current district or department staffing model.
Priority was given to local fire agencies whose annual property tax income does not exceed $2 million. Agencies with an annual property tax income exceeding $2 million were eligible. These applications were reviewed after the application period closed and grant selections were made based on the remaining funds. Applications closed on May 19 and awards were announced in June 2023.
2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant
The Oregon State Fire Marshal is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant.
Over the last two summers, this funding played a pivotal role in protecting communities against catastrophic wildfires. Recipient agencies were eligible for up to $35,000 in one-time funding to decrease response time to keep fires small and away from communities.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan Investments
In February 2023, the OSFM made a strategic, one-time $2.7 million investment at the local and county levels through community wildfire protection plans (CWPP). Projects are being completed in 25 counties: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Wallowa, Wheeler, and Yamhill.
Projects include promoting wildfire-specific community risk reduction efforts, community education, defensible space projects, home assessments, media campaigns, signage, fuel mitigation programs, and grant funds. Awards were announced in February 2023.
List of projects and locations |
Map
Community Wildfire Risk Reduction for the Built Environment
Awards were announced in November 2024. The grant's purpose is to increase wildfire defensible space in Oregon by funding wildfire mitigation projects from structural fire protection agencies, counties, and cities.
This is a competitive grant, not first-come, first-served, and applicants were prioritized based on fire risk, social vulnerability, and project clarity.
Total Funding: $3 million
Grant Range: $50,000 - $75,000
Project Types: Defensible space and community protection projects
Questions? Contact the OSFM grants team at
osfm.grants@osfm.oregon.gov or call 503-791-1956.
Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant
The competitive Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant was open to local governments, special districts, structural fire service agencies, and non-governmental organizations. This grant funds wildfire risk reduction projects, equipment, and staff. These projects will help protect people, property, and communities, preparing communities for wildfire impacts and creating a more fire-adapted Oregon. Applications closed on January 31 and awards announced in May 2023.
Defensible Space Incentive Grant for Schools and Hospitals
The $271,000 Defensible Space Improvement Grant from early 2022 funded Oregon's public or private schools, universities, and hospitals to complete projects to prevent embers from igniting a fire on or near their properties.
Engine Program
This $25-million program purchased and is strategically placing new firefighting equipment across Oregon. These new type 3 and type 6 engines and tactical tenders will assist local host agencies in keeping fires small and away from communities. When responding to wildfires that could impact communities, the OSFM relies on the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS).
Applications closed on October 28, 2022. Awards were announced in April 2023. For more information, visit our
Engine Program page.
Oregon State Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Program
The Oregon State Fire Marshal invested $3 million in the Oregon State Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Program. Klamath County Fire District No. 1 and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue will each receive $1.5 million for the two-year program. These agencies were selected because of the increased risk of wildfire near their communities. Over the last few decades, these regions have experienced more wildfires, increasing the demand for firefighters. This investment will help to lessen that need and provide highly-trained personnel to stop fires before they have a chance to grow and impact communities.
The Oregon fire service has seen a decrease in the number of career and volunteer firefighters entering the field. The goals of the apprenticeship program are to create pathways into a career and increase diversity and inclusion, ensuring the Oregon fire service represents the communities they serve. Funding was announced in May 2023.
Announcement |
Apprenticeship program
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