The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association (VFCA) has SAFER grant funds available to assist volunteer and combination departments in the delivery of basic and advanced firefighter training, leadership training, and other training related to the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
Funds may be used for the following classes provided they are not currently funded in your department’s current budgets: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations, Emergency Vehicle Operators Course, Basic Pump Operator, Driver Pump Operator, and Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations. Other course offerings may be considered on request. Training funds are issued on a reimbursement basis and all classes must be delivered and completed by November 19, 2024.
Scholarship funds are also available to attend the Virginia Fire and Rescue Conference, Virginia Fire Officer Academy (VFOA) Residential or Modular Programs, Virginia Chief Officer Academy (VCOA), VFCA Company Officer Summit, VFCA Chief Officer Summit, First Responder Virginia 5 Conference/Expo, Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association Convention/Conference, Fire Rescue International, VCOS Symposium in the Sun, NVFC conferences, etc. Scholarships cover travel, lodging and registrations for events focusing on volunteer firefighter recruitment, retention, and leadership. Funds are limited per person and only available to volunteer firefighters. Scholarships are issued on a reimbursement basis.
If your agency would like to be considered for training assistance, please submit an Expression of Interest Form (Attached). If you submitted an expression of interest form in the past, please do so again for additional consideration.
If you are interested in applying for scholarship funds, please submit a Scholarship Application Form (Attached).
Please send completed forms to Nick Caputo at njcaputo@aol.com. Questions? Call Nick at 814.404.3282.
