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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 program information and link to application form click 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