Western States Fire Managers Program (WSFM)

The Western States Fire Managers (WSFM) Grant Program, administered in Idaho by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), is designed to reduce the risk of wildland fires within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Funded by the USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry Branch, this program offers financial support to eligible applicants for proactive, community-driven wildfire mitigation strategies that align with broader state and federal fire prevention goals. The WSFM grant emphasizes on-the-ground fuel treatments and planning processes that address the growing threats posed by wildfires near residential and vulnerable forest-adjacent communities. The WSFM program offers grants of up to $240,000 per project, provided on a reimbursement basis. This means that awarded grantees must front the costs of implementation before submitting documentation for reimbursement. One critical requirement of the WSFM grant is a 1:1 match, with a minimum of 10% of the total project cost required from the applicant. There is no requirement that projects be adjacent to federal lands, which distinguishes WSFM from other wildfire mitigation programs like HFR. Instead, WSFM prioritizes flexibility and community readiness by allowing a wide variety of project types that directly reduce wildfire risk in WUI zones. Projects must be included in a Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan (CWPP), whether a standalone document or integrated into a county all-hazard mitigation plan. Qualifying activities under the WSFM program include but are not limited to: creating defensible space around homes and structures, shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burning, fuel reduction, slash removal (piling, burning, mulching, grinding), thinning, project monitoring, maintenance of previously treated areas (non-federally funded), CWPP development, and public education. The range of allowable activities makes WSFM particularly appealing to communities aiming to implement both treatment and education-based mitigation projects. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and educational institutions. The program is competitive, with all proposals from Idaho scored, ranked, and advanced for funding consideration at the western regional level. Successful applicants must clearly demonstrate how proposed activities will reduce wildfire risk in the WUI and how they align with state and federal strategies for forest and community resilience. The WSFM proposal cycle officially opened on January 21, 2026. An informational webinar will be held on February 4, 2026, to assist applicants in preparing their submissions, including reviewing proposal packet components, evaluation criteria, and project planning best practices. Completed project proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than 5:00 PM PST on March 31, 2026. Selected proposals will undergo refinement with IDL staff during the spring and summer, in preparation for the western regional competition. Award notifications are expected in fall 2027, with grant agreements and project implementation beginning shortly thereafter.

Participate in the informational webinar and coordinate with IDL for proposal refinement to enhance competitiveness.