​Local fire departments suppress the majority of wildfires in Maryland. The Maryland Forest Service supports their capacity to do so through two programs: the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program, which funds wildland firefighting equipment and training, and the Dry Hydrant program, which improves rural water access for fire suppression operations.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program

The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program provides financial and technical assistance to rural volunteer fire departments to enhance wildland fire suppression capabilities, improve firefighter safety, and support the use of wildland personal protective equipment. Grants are awarded on a 50/50 cost share basis, with federal funds reimbursing up to 50 percent of eligible costs up to a maximum of $3,500 per department.

Eligibility
A department is eligible if it serves a rural area or rural community with a population of 10,000 or less. Area fire departments serving an aggregate population greater than 10,000 may qualify if their service area includes a rural community meeting that threshold. Grants are not available for medical, rescue, or hazardous materials equipment; capital construction; or vehicle purchases.

What Grants Cover
Eligible equipment and expenses include wildland personal protective equipment meeting NFPA standards (flame-resistant clothing, hard hats, gloves, eye and hearing protection, and fire shelters); wildland firefighting tools including chainsaws and leaf blowers; firefighting equipment including hose under 2.5 inches in diameter, nozzles, adapters, bladder bags, and slip-on pumping units; all-terrain and utility vehicles and supporting equipment for wildland fire use; fire communications equipment; rehabilitation of equipment obtained through federal excess programs; and wildland fire training tuition for department personnel.

Grants may not be used for structural firefighting equipment with no wildland application, hose larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, vehicle purchases, or capital improvements.

Application and Scoring
Grant applications are scored on a points system. Equipment primarily used for wildland firefighting receives the highest priority. Departments that received grants in the three prior years receive a standard points deduction. Applications are ranked by score and funded in order until that year's federal allocation is depleted. Applications are submitted annually. For current application materials, contact Dakota Albers at (410) 490-9100 or [email protected].

Dry Hydrant Program

In rural areas without pressurized hydrant systems, fire departments must shuttle water from distant sources, which can interrupt suppression operations at critical moments. A dry hydrant is a non-pressurized pipe system permanently installed in a natural water source such as a lake, stream, or pond, allowing fire trucks to draft water directly without the need for pressurized infrastructure. Between 2003 and 2007, the Maryland Forest Service provided grant funding to volunteer fire departments for the installation of 114 dry hydrants statewide through a federal State Fire Assistance hazard mitigation grant. The Maryland Dry Hydrants​ publication provides a county-by-county listing of 419 known dry hydrant sites across the state.