APPLICATION PERIOD CURRENTLY OPEN
The California Fire Foundation (CFF) is pleased to announce the Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention & Firefighter Safety Grant Program, funded through the voter-approved $10 billion Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act.
Of the historic statewide investment, approximately $1.5 billion is dedicated to wildfire and forest resilience. CFF has been entrusted with $13.8 million of these funds to deploy directly to California-based fire departments, local firefighter associations, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations across California. These grants are designed to strengthen firefighter safety, enhance community preparedness, and support proactive wildfire prevention at the local level.
As wildfire risk continues to grow across the state, local agencies and community-based organizations remain on the front lines. Proposition 4 funding provides critical resources to ensure those closest to the work have the tools, equipment, and support they need to protect lives, property, and natural landscapes.
Funding Categories
The California Fire Foundation supports projects that actively address disaster preparedness and/or prevention needs, which protect and enhance the public’s safety or the safety of California’s firefighters and other first responders, including:
Firefighter Health & Safety: Grants in this category focus on protecting firefighters' physical, mental, and behavioral health. Examples include:
- Cancer prevention, research, and treatment initiatives
- Mental and behavioral health programs
- Peer support and resilience programs for firefighters and their families
- Physical therapy recovery equipment (saunas, cold plunge)
Specialized Firefighting Equipment: Grants in this category will support equipment that directly protects firefighter health and strengthens emergency response capacity. Examples include:
- Turnout gear, radios, extractors, decontamination equipment, and emergency fire shelters
- Water Cisterns
- Drones and UTVs
Vegetation and Fuels Management: Grants in this category will support disaster mitigation and fuel reduction projects. Examples include:
- Regional Fuel Breaks
- Hazardous Vegetation Removal
- Chipping and Clearing Operations
- Creating Defensible Space at Community Scale
Funding Guidelines
- Funding Priorities and Guidelines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Grant awards may be available up to $1,000,000 depending on project scope and impact
- Eligible entities include: California-based fire departments, local firefighter associations, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations.
- Other groups may apply in partnership with one of the eligible entities – if your project is fiscally sponsored, the application must be submitted through the fiscal sponsor's grant portal.
- Applicants are required to follow the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Cooperative Fire Protection – Safety Program Firefighter Health and Safety, Vegetation and Fuel Reduction, and Community Resilience Grant Guidelines
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Review the Indirect Cost Policy prior to completing your detailed project budget
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Budget Templates & Instructions - When uploading the project budget in the grant portal, please note there are two tabs in the budget template: project budget and other funding sources. BOTH are required. If you do not have additional funding sources, please enter N/A
How to Apply
TO APPLY, visit our grants portal to log in to your existing account or create a new one. Applications must be submitted through the portal before 11:59 PM on November 16, 2026.
For further questions, email cffgrants@cpf.org