Firefighter and First Responder Grants Now Open for Counties

Key Takeaways

May 18, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced $648 million in grant funding for firefighters and other first responders nationwide. The funding is available through Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S). For counties, these programs support local fire departments, emergency medical services agencies and first responder organizations that respond to emergencies and protect residents.

Assistance to Firefighters Grants

• The program offers $291.6 million in grants directly to fire departments and emergency medical services agencies across the U.S.
• AFG grants help fire departments and EMS agencies purchase personal protective equipment, emergency response vehicles and other resources needed to respond safely to incidents.
• The funding can also support responder wellness initiatives, helping local agencies prepare their workforce for emergencies.

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SAFER Grant Program

• The program offers $324 million in grants directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations across the U.S.
• SAFER grants help departments pay firefighter salaries and keep trained personnel in place.
• The funding can also support recruitment and retention efforts, helping local fire departments maintain emergency response capacity

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Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program

• The program offers $32.4 million in grants directly to fire departments, nonprofit organizations and research-oriented institutions.
• FP&S grants support community fire prevention efforts and firefighter safety research.
• The funding can also support clinical studies focused on firefighter health and well-being.

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Application deadline

The application period for all three grant programs opened on May 19, 2026, and will close on June 22, 2026. Eligible applicants can review the full funding opportunities on Grants.gov. FEMA also encourages applicants to review resources on FEMA.gov and attend live webinars during May to ask questions about the application process.
These grants help counties and local first responders maintain staffing, purchase equipment and improve emergency response capacity.