Wildfire Prevention Grants

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is administering the Proposition 4 California Climate Bond Wildfire Prevention Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. This funding opportunity was created through the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, also known as Proposition 4, which California voters approved in November 2024. The program is designed to support wildfire prevention activities in and near wildfire-threatened communities throughout California. CAL FIRE announced that up to $70 million is available during this solicitation cycle to fund projects that improve public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program aligns with California’s Strategic Fire Plan and broader statewide wildfire and forest resilience objectives. The grant guidelines state that projects will be evaluated based on their ability to reduce wildfire threats to people, structures, and communities while supporting long-term resilience and preparedness. The program supports three primary categories of activities: Hazardous Fuels Reduction, Wildfire Prevention Planning, and Wildfire Prevention Education. Eligible hazardous fuels reduction activities include vegetation clearance, strategic fuel breaks, roadside fuel reduction for evacuation safety, ladder fuel removal, hazardous tree removal, prescribed grazing, and community wildfire mitigation programs such as chipping events and green waste programs. Planning activities may include the creation or updating of Community Wildfire Protection Plans, evacuation plans, local hazard mitigation plans, wildfire mitigation plans, and wildfire risk mapping. Education projects may include public outreach campaigns, defensible space education, workshops, and wildfire preparedness training intended to reduce human-caused ignitions and increase public awareness of wildfire resilience practices. CAL FIRE places emphasis on projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect disadvantaged communities, improve evacuation and emergency response conditions, and support continuity of critical infrastructure and government operations. Eligible applicants include California state agencies, Native American tribes, Joint Powers Authorities, fire protection districts, community services districts, water districts, resource conservation districts, counties, cities, city and county governments, Fire Safe Councils with 501(c)(3) status, and other nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Applicants that have applied for nonprofit designation may still apply but must provide proof of approved 501(c)(3) status before grant agreement execution. The guidelines specifically prohibit applications from private for-profit corporations, individuals, private landowners, and homeowners associations without nonprofit status. Projects may involve partnerships, but applicants must provide letters of commitment from partners. CAL FIRE also notes that projects using California Conservation Corps or Certified Community Conservation Corps services may receive preference during evaluation. Additional priority is given to projects serving disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities, projects with matching funds, projects that leverage other funding sources, and projects aligned with the Fire Risk Reduction Community List. Funding recommendations are generally capped at $950,000 or less, although CAL FIRE reserves discretion to partially fund projects or adjust award amounts. Eligible costs may include contractor services, hazardous tree removal, CEQA and NEPA compliance expenses, project supplies, project equipment under program limits, travel, salaries directly related to project implementation, and approved indirect costs. Equipment purchases exceeding a cumulative total of $750,000 are not allowed. Permanent infrastructure projects, landscaping improvements, grant writing expenses, and costs unrelated to wildfire prevention are ineligible. Matching funds are not required, but applications demonstrating cost sharing or in-kind support receive additional evaluation preference. Indirect costs are allowable under several approved methods, including negotiated indirect cost rates or a 15 percent de minimis rate, with possible approval of rates up to 20 percent when justified. Applications must be submitted electronically through the CAL FIRE Grants Portal and associated Wildfire Prevention Grants Mapping Center. The solicitation opened on May 7, 2026, and complete applications are due by July 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. Hazardous fuels reduction projects must include treatment area polygons in the mapping system, while planning and education projects require a geopoint submission. Required application components include the application form, scope of work, budget, project goals, project map PDFs, standard state forms, shapefiles for fuels reduction projects, and supporting documentation such as letters of commitment or support. Applications submitted late, incomplete, or inconsistent with mapping requirements may be disqualified. CAL FIRE encourages applicants to coordinate with local CAL FIRE units during project development to improve competitiveness and compliance with program requirements. The review process includes local, regional, and statewide evaluations conducted by CAL FIRE staff. Evaluation criteria include wildfire risk reduction impact, consistency with strategic wildfire planning documents, greenhouse gas reduction strategies, community support, implementation readiness, budget reasonableness, organizational capacity, and protection of wildfire-threatened communities. Additional scoring consideration is provided for projects benefiting disadvantaged communities and projects utilizing conservation corps resources. Successful applicants will enter into grant agreements with CAL FIRE and must comply with extensive reporting, environmental review, and accounting requirements. Quarterly progress reports, GIS data updates, financial reports, and final implementation reports are mandatory. Projects involving environmental impacts must complete CEQA or NEPA compliance within twelve months of grant execution, and no environmentally impactful work may begin until CAL FIRE issues written environmental compliance approval. The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program is recurring and tied to California’s broader wildfire resilience and climate investment strategy under Proposition 4. Accountability and transparency are emphasized throughout the guidelines, including audit provisions, public disclosure requirements, and greenhouse gas reporting obligations. Advance payments may be available for nonprofit organizations, local agencies, special districts, Native American tribes, and resource conservation districts at CAL FIRE’s discretion. Key program contacts include WPGrants@fire.ca.gov, SouthernRegionGrants@fire.ca.gov, CNRgrants@fire.ca.gov, and CALFIRE.Grants@fire.ca.gov. The grant guidelines document and related application resources are available through the CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants website and official Proposition 4 grant materials.

Projects that demonstrate greenhouse gas reduction, serve disadvantaged communities, align with Community Wildfire Protection Plans or other strategic plans, and include strong implementation timelines and measurable deliverables will receive additional priority. Matching funds are not required but strengthen competitiveness. Coordinate early with local CAL FIRE units and ensure all mapping and environmental compliance requirements are addressed before submission.