The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) recently announced that 412 Tennessee volunteer fire departments will receive grants totaling $20 million in 2026 through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program.
Metro Moore County Volunteer Fire Department was among the recipients. They were awarded $47,200 in state grant funds, which will be used to replace older self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for local firefighters.
Created through legislation overseen by Governor Bill Lee and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program provides grant monies to volunteer fire departments. The grants are used by volunteer departments to purchase firefighting equipment (i.e. helmets, turnout gear, thermal-imaging cameras and other necessary items) or help meet local matching requirements for federal equipment grants.
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Since the program’s launch in 2020, grants totaling $46.5 million have been provided to Tennessee volunteer fire departments serving communities in all three of Tennessee’s three Grand Divisions. The $20 million allocation for 2026 was the largest single amount allocated for VFEAT in its history.
“Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly are committed to helping departments receive the funding they need to help keep their firefighters safe, while they protect their communities” said TDCI Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Carter Lawrence. “It is my honor to help serve the Tennessee fire service so that they can save lives and protect property across Tennessee.”
The grant program helps support the work of the majority of Tennessee’s firefighters. A recent survey found that 71 percent of Tennessee’s fire departments are staffed entirely by volunteers. Out of Tennessee’s 21,075 total active firefighters, an estimated 12,460 are volunteers, which accounts for over 59 percent.
“Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of fire protection in our communities, and it is crucial that they have the equipment they need to safely complete their mission,” said Assistant Commissioner for Fire Prevention Mike Bell. “I encourage Tennessee’s volunteer fire departments to remember they can always reach out to our team should they ever have any questions about the grant program or our mission.”
During the application period (Nov. 3 – Dec. 4, 2025), applications were reviewed, scored, and submitted to a seven-member committee for the final award selection.•
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