Fire Prevention & Safety

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency�s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The FP&S Grant Program provides grants directly to eligible entities for fire prevention programs and firefighter safety, health, or well-being research and development. FEMA will measure the recipient�s performance of the grant by comparing the number of items, supplies, projects, and activities needed and requested in its application with the number of items, supplies, projects, and activities acquired and delivered by the end of the period of performance. Please see applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for additional information on the specific program metrics.

Eligible applicants for the FP&S Activity are limited to fire departments operating in any of the 50 states, as well as fire departments in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization.. National, regional, state, local, tribal, and nonprofit interest organizations that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities are also eligible applicants under the FP&S Activity. National, state, local, federally recognized tribal, and non-profit organizations, such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions are eligible under the Research and Development (R&D) Activity. The Period of Performance (POP) for the FP&S Program is up to 48 months.

??The FP&S Grant Program uses a multi-phase, merit-based process to select applications. Initially, FEMA reviews applications to confirm eligibility, ensure accurate narrative statements, and check for duplication among applicants sharing facilities. Applications are then electronically ranked based on how well they align with program priorities established by the Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which includes representatives from major fire service organizations. The highest-ranked applications are forwarded to peer review panels, where subject matter experts independently evaluate narrative statements using weighted criteria such as finances, vulnerability, project description, implementation plan, and cost-benefit for FP&S activities, and scientific rigor, potential impact, and partnerships for R&D activities. For R&D projects, both fire service and scientific panels participate in the review. Additional FEMA reviews assess technical feasibility, costs, eligibility, and financial integrity, including risk assessments and compliance with federal requirements. Final selection is determined by overall ranking, technical evaluation, and program office review to ensure awards align with program goals and statutory requirements.?

Fiscal year 2025: The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program funded 62 grant awards to mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards and improved firefighter safety, health, or well-being through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries. These awards funded projects in the areas of community risk reduction; wildfire risk reduction; code enforcement/awareness; origin and cause investigation; and national/state/regional programs and projects. The program also provided funding for research and development, including clinical studies; technology and product development; preliminary studies; and early career investigator programs. Fiscal year 2026: The FP&S Program was appropriated $32.4 million to mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards and improve firefighter safety, health, or well-being through research and development. We estimate to make 100 awards averaging $324,000 per award.