According to a report from The World, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced a grant to help bolster wildfire fighting capacity of local fire departments across the state.
The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative will make available approximately $4 million to local fire districts and departments to increase staffing during the 2022 wildfire season. When applying for this grant, local fire departments can request up to $35,000 to support this on-duty staffing increase.
This additional funding will also give agencies the ability to mobilize more quickly to fires at the local, regional, and state (conflagration) level. The additional staffing will keep these fires from increasing in size before they reach vulnerable communities.
OSFM Mariana Ruiz-Temple said that the state is investing in communities through risk-reduction programs and firefighting equipment.
Current staff and volunteers are eligible for additional hours under the grant using the current agency staffing model and pay scale. The application review begins June 6. Applications may be considered through August 12, depending on the availability of funds. Applications will be periodically reviewed during the application window. Funding awards will be distributed on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed and approved.
Funding for the Response Ready Oregon Initiative was made possible through the Oregon Legislature and Senate Bill 762.
All 306 of Oregon’s local fire service agencies are eligible for the grant. For additional information or the grant application, click HERE.
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