To boost the number of firefighters across Oregon before wildfire season, the Oregon State Fire Marshal announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to 191 local fire agencies across the state -- including 12 agencies in Southern Oregon.
The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is in its third year. Local agencies in the Oregon structural fire service were eligible to apply for up to $35,000.
The funding will allow selected agencies to bring on additional firefighters or increase on-duty hours during the upcoming fire season.
Locally, OSFM grants were awarded to the Applegate Valley Fire District, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Azalea Rural Fire Protection District, Evans Valley Fire District, Greensprings Rural Fire Protection District, Illinois Valley Fire District, Jackson County Fire District #4, Jacksonville Fire Department, Lake Creek Rural Fire Protection District, Prospect Rural Fire Protection District, Rogue River Fire District and Williams Rural Fire Protection District.
The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is part of a multi-pronged approach to combat wildfires in Oregon. Over the last three years, the OSFM has made strategic investments to modernize the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System and help communities become more wildfire adapted.
This grant is part of the OSFM's Response Ready Oregon initiative. The state agency is looking for sustained funding for this program and is exploring all options to continue this highly successful program in 2025 and beyond.
