The Western States Fire Managers (WSFM) program, administered by the Idaho Department of Lands and funded by the USDA Forest Service's State and Private Forestry Branch, is designed to support wildfire risk mitigation efforts in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. The grant is part of a larger suite of funding opportunities available in fiscal year cycles, with WSFM focusing on the FY26 competition. Its primary objectives include hazard fuel reduction, information dissemination, planning and assessment activities, and ongoing project monitoring by communities and landowners.
The WSFM grant program offers up to $240,000 per project through a competitive selection process. Funding is reimbursement-based, meaning awardees must initially cover implementation costs before seeking reimbursement from the Idaho Department of Lands. To qualify, projects must be identified in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), Hazard Mitigation Plan, or equivalent document, and must align with Idaho's Forest Action Plan priorities. Projects are encouraged to take place in designated Priority Landscape Areas (PLAs) or Special Landscape Areas (SLAs); otherwise, they must be located in areas of high wildfire risk.
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local agencies; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; tribal governments; and educational institutions. Private landowners are not eligible to apply directly. The grant requires a minimum 10% match but operates under a 1:1 matching framework, meaning applicants typically contribute at least 50% of total project costs from non-federal sources. Common eligible activities include defensible space development, shaded fuel breaks, slash removal, prescribed fire, thinning, CWPP development, and community education focused on fire risk reduction.
The application cycle for FY26 opened in January 2025, with a proposal planning webinar held on January 30, 2025. Completed proposals were due by March 7, 2025 via email submission. Following submission, selected projects are further refined in collaboration with the Department of Lands through summer 2025 before advancing to the broader western U.S. competitive review. Final award notifications for WSFM are expected in fall 2026, followed by agreement execution and project implementation in late 2026.
Prospective applicants are advised to carefully review current grant instructions and consult with IDL staff early in the planning process. The primary point of contact is Isabella Pritchard, the Grant Project Coordinator, who is available to guide applicants through requirements and provide feedback during proposal development.
Competitive proposals clearly demonstrate alignment with Idaho’s Forest Action Plan and occur within high-risk wildfire areas or designated landscape priorities.
