FEMA firefighter jobs grants for hiring, recruitment, and retention of paid and volunteer personnel
Over $3 billion in fire jobs grants awarded since 2017
Current application period: FY 2025
We’ll update details on dates, deadlines, and NOFO/grant guidelines once they’re available.
Application period opens
May 19, 2026, 8 a.m. EST
Application deadline
June 22, 2026, 5 p.m. EST
Questions about SAFER or your application?
Our grant consultants are here
Program information
About SAFER fire grants
SAFER is a federal fire services grant program provided via FEMA and DHS. Through SAFER, fire departments nationwide have been able to recruit and hire firefighters. From FY 2017 through FY 2023 alone, SAFER has awarded 2,822 fire jobs grants, totaling $3,384,880,288.
About the FY 2025 SAFER program
- Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-25-GPD-083-00-99
- Assistance Listing Number: 97.083
- Expected Total Funding: $324,000,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 190 awards
- Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than Sept. 30, 2026
- Anticipated Award Date: Beginning on approximately Sept. 14, 2026, and continuing thereafter until all FY 2025 SAFER Program grant awards are issued (but no later than Sept. 30, 2026).
Eligible Entities/Entity Types
Only the following entities or entity types are eligible to apply:
- Fire departments
- National, regional, state, local, tribal, and nonprofit interest organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters are eligible to receive a SAFER Program award under the R&R Activity
Allowable Project Types
Hiring Activity
The Hiring Activity provides grants to support fire departments in hiring new firefighters or converting part-time or paid-on-call firefighters to full-time positions. However, national, regional, state, local, Tribal Nation, and nonprofit organizations that represent volunteer firefighters are not eligible for SAFER Program awards under the Hiring Activity.
R&R Activity
The R&R Activity provides grants to help fire departments recruit and retain volunteer firefighters trained in firefighting and emergency response operations. Career fire departments are not eligible for funding under the R&R Activity.
Things to keep in mind for FY 2025
When applying for FY 2025 SAFER, keep in mind the following considerations should your Fire Service organization receive an award:
Assuming that the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in a department at the time of the grant application is $120,000 per year and the department actually incurred $100,000 per year in each year of the grant, the following cost share requirements and position cost limits would apply:
- Cost Share Requirement: The grant recipient is required to contribute $25,000 in Year 1; $25,000 in Year 2; and $65,000
- in Year 3.
- Position Cost Limit: The amount of federal funding cannot exceed $90,000 in Year 1; $90,000 in Year 2; and $42,000 in Year 3.
What does SAFER do?
According to FEMA, “The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720).”
Since the program’s first awards in 2005, SAFER has provided over $5.2 billion in fire jobs grants for fire departments around the USA, including small, large, rural, and urban departments. This direct funding helps fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations add more firefighters, so that they can:
- Reach industry minimum standards
- Attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards
- Fulfill traditional missions of fire departments
Additionally, SAFER funds have made it possible for fire departments not only to recruit and hire firefighters, but to:
- Provide critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards
- Enhance operational efficiencies
- Foster interoperability, and
- Support community resilience
As of Aug. 23, 2024, under the FY 2023 program, FEMA has awarded 100 SAFER fire jobs grants, totaling $36.4 million.
How to apply
Applicants must set up and maintain an active account in SAM.gov.
To apply for SAFER, use FEMA GO.
Questions about SAFER or your application?
Our grant consultants are here