Community Firewise Grants

The Community Firewise Grants program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) and is supported by funding from the USDA Forest Service through the Cohesive Fire Strategy Grants. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, specifically targeting Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) in New Jersey communities. The primary goal is to enhance local resilience to wildfire threats through community engagement, risk mitigation, and preparedness initiatives. The grant encourages proactive wildfire planning and provides financial assistance to communities at risk of wildfires. The program offers a cost-share incentive for eligible communities and organizations to pursue a Firewise Community/USA designation and to implement associated risk-reduction activities. Eligible projects may include hazard mitigation actions, training for local Firewise liaisons, and public outreach or awareness campaigns about fire risk. Through these initiatives, the grant seeks to build long-term capacity for fire prevention and response at the local level, while promoting sustainable practices that align with federal fire management goals. Applicants for the Community Firewise Grant must be located within documented wildfire risk areas in New Jersey and must have achieved or be actively pursuing the Firewise Communities/USA designation. Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, and homeowner associations within the state. The grant provides funding for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 per designated Firewise community. Matching funds are therefore required, and applicants must plan to cover the remaining half of the project budget through other sources. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, contingent on the availability and timing of federal funding. This ongoing application cycle allows communities to apply at their own pace, provided funding is available. Applications are submitted through NJDEP’s System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE), which streamlines the process and ensures standardized review procedures. Awards are generally announced within one month of the end of the application period or sooner, depending on when a qualified proposal is accepted. In-house training is offered by the NJDEP on a case-by-case basis to support applicants in developing or managing their Firewise programs. Additionally, external resources such as Firewise USA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provide supplemental education and certification programs. These partnerships ensure that communities are equipped with the technical knowledge and tools needed for successful implementation and compliance with national standards. For further details or application support, interested applicants can contact Joseph Battersby, Division Forest Firewarden, at joseph.battersby@dep.nj.gov. The program does not specify a fixed closing date due to its rolling nature, but applicants should monitor the NJDEP Firewise Grant webpage for updates, changes in funding availability, or program adjustments. As a state-level initiative with federal backing, the Community Firewise Grant provides a targeted, accessible mechanism for wildfire resilience across New Jersey.