The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to local fire agencies across the state to boost firefighter numbers before the wildfire season.
The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is in its third year and provides up to $35,000 to local agencies. The funding allows agencies to hire extra firefighters or increase on-duty hours during wildfire season.
The 2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program added more than 1,500 paid firefighters to the Oregon fire service. The added resources allowed agencies to attack fires and keep them away from communities, ultimately saving lives. “The staffing grant program has been a huge success for the Oregon fire service and our district,” Sublimity Fire District Chief Alan Hume said.