Funding Resources & Benefits Available to the Texas Fire Service
Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program - $17 Million/Year
- Available to fire departments with 20 or fewer paid members
- Provides grants for fire equipment, training, apparatus
- Administered by Texas A&M Forest Service
- Referred to as the HB2604 Program
For application form - click here. Additional program information here.
Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grant - $1 Million/Year
- Available to fire departments with 21 or more paid members
- Provides grants to fire departments for fire equipment, training and state-owned apparatus
- Administered by Texas A&M Forest Service
For additional information - click here
Equipment Grants (Administered by Texas A&M Forest Service)
- Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program (excess federal military property)
For additional information - click here.
- Helping Hands Program (donated, used equipment)
For additional information - click here.
Rural VFD Insurance Program
- Provides financial assistance for FDs to get worker’s compensation or AD&D insurance
- Administered by Texas A&M Forest Service
- Referred to as the HB3667 Program
For additional information - click here
Line-of-Duty Death Benefit - $500,000/Incident
- Available to any firefighter’s family in the event of a line-of-duty death
- Administered by Employee Retirement System of Texas
- College tuition exemption available to children of fallen firefighters
For additional information - click here.
College Tuition Exemption
- Volunteer and paid firefighters seeking a fire science degree are exempt from college tuition (excluding lab fees, etc.)
- Administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Application and more information - Click Here.
FAQ - Click Here