Wildfire Risk Reduction Grants

California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) – Provides private forestland owners with between 20 – 5,000 acres of forestland funding to improve their forests.  Forestland is defined as having at least 10 percent of the area occupied by trees native to California or formerly having that level of tree cover.  The program provides 75-90 percent cost share assistance for forest improvement.  It is not targeted at fuel reduction; however, it will fund efforts to bring overgrown forests into a healthier state that would increase their fire resiliency by reducing fuel loads.  Interested landowners apply for the program through CAL FIRE. 

Forest Health Program – Funds larger projects across multiple properties to increase the health and resiliency of forests.  Local governments, special districts, Resource Conservation Districts, Fire Safe Councils, other NGOs, as well as private landowners are eligible to apply for the grant funding.  Projects must cover at least 800 acres and cost between $750,000 and $5 million. The program is funded with Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund moneys and, therefore, must show a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Fire Prevention Grants Program – Provides funding for local projects and activities that address the risk of wildfire, reduce wildfire potential, and increase community resiliency. Qualifying projects for the grant include those related to hazardous fuel reduction and removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees, fire prevention planning, and fire prevention education.  This program is aimed at funding larger projects across multiple properties.  Local governments within or adjacent to State Responsibility Areas, other government agencies, tribes, and 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply for grant funding.  The program is funded with Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund moneys and, therefore, must show reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Wildfire Resilience Block Grant – Is a relatively new program to provide funding for eligible entities to provide technical and financial assistance to forestland owners.  The program allows grantees the ability to provide a program of financial and technical forestry assistance to nonindustrial forest landowners, where the grantee serves as the supervising entity, receives the grant from CAL FIRE and then provides outreach and/or technical/financial assistance to landowners so they can conduct forest restoration or management activities on their property.  The program is aimed not at private landowners, but at organizations who can assist private landowners to improve the health of their forests. 

North Bay Forest Improvement Program – Is a partnership between the Resource Conservation Districts of Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Napa counties and Clear Lake Environmental Research Center offering forest landowners grants to treat wildfire hazards on their properties.  Eligible landowners own between 5 and 500 acres of forestland and are interested in reforestation, installing shaded fuel breaks, thinning, or follow-up fuel hazard reduction activities. To apply in Mendocino, Napa, or Sonoma counties contact the local RCD, or Clear Lake Environmental Research Center in Lake County.  The NBFIP has a total of $1.5 million available for the program and would like to limit individual grant awards to under $200,000 to ensure there are enough funds across the whole region. 

California Fire Safe Council – Administers the U.S. Forest Service State Fire Assistance Grant Program, which provides funding to mitigate fuel hazards, assist communities in wildfire planning efforts, and assists communities develop fire prevention and mitigation education programs.  The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cost share for awarded grants, but they can include in-kind contributions. 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) manages the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides cost share assistance to agricultural and forest landowners and managers to implement conservation practices on their properties.  EQIP provides funding to assist landowners in improving forest health, including reducing fuel loads, as well as recovering from catastrophic fires.  Funding for prescribed grazing on agricultural or forestland to reduce fuel loads is also eligible for EQIP payments.  For post recovery fire assistance, landowners are eligible up to 36 months post fire.  To be eligible, participants must have an average adjusted gross income of less than $900,000 and payment limits are up to $450,000 over the life of the Farm Bill.  For more information, contact your local NRCS office.

Emergency Forest Restoration Program – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) manages the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), which provides cost share payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest land to restore lands damaged by natural disasters.  Cost share rates are up to 75 percent of the cost of the approved restoration practices with a maximum distribution of $500,000 per person or legal entity per disaster.  To apply, contact your local FSA office.

Emergency Conservation Program – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) manages the Emergency Conservation Program, which provides technical and cost share assistance to farmers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.  Cost share rates are up to 75 percent to restore property.  Payments are capped at $500,000 per person or legal entity per disaster.  To apply, contact your local FSA office.

Tree Assistance Program – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) manages the Tree Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to replace vines lost in excess of 15 percent mortality.  Payments are up to 65 percent of the cost to replant or 50 percent of the cost to rehabilitate.  Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the natural disaster or the date when damage becomes apparent.  The program is available to winegrape growers with an adjusted gross income under $900,000.  To apply, contact your local FSA office.

Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program, which provides funds to firefighting agencies to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience.  Included in the program is the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which provides funds to local firefighting agencies to help reduce injuries, deaths and property damage from fires with specific focus on high-risk populations.