As part of California’s Wildfire Resilience Strategy, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is announcing the availability of up to $135 million through the agency’s wildfire prevention grants program. Grant applications are open now and completed applications are due no later than 3 p.m. Aug. 6.
Cal Fire’s wildfire prevention grants program funds local projects that focus on increasing the protection of people, structures and communities. Activities include hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning and wildfire prevention education. “We’re making millions more available to fund projects that are proven to keep communities safe,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a news release distributed recently.
Cal Fire points out that its wildfire prevention grants are effective. Local projects like proactive vegetation management, defensible space creation and structure hardening helped preserve historical structures and homes in Los Angeles County in 2025. In 2024 in Sonoma County, over 300 acres of shaded fuel breaks, created by clearing brush and small trees along roads, helped reduce flammable vegetation and slowed a fire’s spread. Residents were able to evacuate safely, and firefighters were able to the stop the spread of fire quickly.
“These examples demonstrate how grant funds are effectively helping to improve wildfire resilience in California communities through thoughtful planning and preventative work funded through Cal Fire grants,” said Chief Daniel Berlant, California state fire marshal. “Over the last five years, over $500 million has been awarded to over 490 projects across the state.” The wildfire prevention grants program will be hosting a series of “office hours” to assist with various steps in the grants process, including addressing questions. The wildfire prevention grants web page provides dates, times and locations for each office hour event. Recordings of the events will be made available on the website.
The following entities are eligible for grants:
- State agencies
- Native American tribes
- Fire protection districts
- Community services districts
- Water districts
- Resource conservation districts
- City and county agencies
- Fire safe councils with a 501(c)(3) designation
- Other qualified nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation
- Joint powers authorities if the entities involved are eligible applicants
Grant applications are reviewed and scored based on their ability to reduce the threat of wildfires to the greatest number of habitable structures in the state responsibility area and surrounding communities. Projects that benefit or focus on assisting those with disadvantaged and low-income, disabled or elderly populations will receive additional priority. Those that demonstrate carbon benefits by reducing carbon emissions during the implementation of the project will also be prioritized.
Wildfire prevention grant projects support the goals and objectives of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as well as the Strategic Fire Plan for California. Fiscal year 2025-26 funding for wildfire prevention grants is allocated through the California Climate Investments Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4 – Climate Bond).
More information about Cal Fire’s wildfire prevention grants and how to apply is available online.
