Volunteer fire departments can now apply for $25 million in capital funding to upgrade firehouses, improve training facilities, and purchase critical response equipment under a new state grant program.
The funding is being made available through the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment Grant Program, administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The application period is open now, with a deadline of February 25, 2026.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano said the grants provide much-needed support for volunteer departments that are increasingly relied upon to meet growing public safety demands, particularly in suburban communities. He encouraged local fire officials to review the program and begin the application process as early as possible.
“Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of public safety in communities like ours,” DeStefano said. “This funding helps address aging infrastructure, outdated equipment, and the operational challenges departments face as call volumes and costs continue to rise.”
The $25 million program includes two funding tracks. A total of $20 million is available for construction, renovation, or purchase of fire facilities, including stations, training towers, exhaust removal systems, and decontamination shower facilities. An additional $5 million is designated for equipment purchases such as personal protective equipment, radios, breathing apparatus fill stations, and firefighter rehabilitation equipment.
DeStefano said the investments are not about luxury upgrades, but about firefighter safety and readiness.
“Modern facilities and proper equipment directly affect how safely and effectively firefighters can respond,” said the Assemblyman, who’s served as a volunteer firefighter in Medford for more than 40 years. “These grants recognize that reality and help ensure volunteers have the tools they need to protect their communities.”
The funding builds on a previous round of awards issued in October 2024 to volunteer fire departments statewide. Eligible applicants include towns, villages, fire districts, nonprofit volunteer fire companies, and municipal shared services that provide fire protection using 100 percent volunteer membership.