LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to multiple volunteer fire departments in Charles, Calvert and St. Marys counties as part of a statewide program finalized in December 2025. The grants, funded by the USDA Forest Service, provide up to 50 percent matching funds with a maximum of $3,500 per department to enhance wildland fire protection in rural areas.
In the 2025 grant cycle, the Maryland Forest Service distributed $167,314 in match funding statewide to support $370,376 in total project costs across 55 departments in 17 counties. All but two Maryland applicants received grants.
Calvert County received one award. North Beach Volunteer Fire Department was granted $1,520 toward a $3,040 total project cost.
Charles County departments secured five grants. Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad received $750 for a $1,500 project. Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department obtained the full $3,500 for an $8,055 project. Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc. was awarded $570 for a $1,140 project. La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Inc. received $3,500 for a $7,650 project. Tenth District Volunteer Fire Department secured $3,500 toward a $34,403 project, the largest total cost among Southern Maryland recipients.
St. Marys County received one grant. Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $3,500 for a $7,345 project.
The Volunteer Fire Assistance program assists rural volunteer fire companies with equipment purchases, training and facility improvements specifically related to wildland fire response. Projects often include personal protective gear, brush trucks, chainsaws, pumps, hoses and vegetation management tools. The matching requirement ensures departments contribute local resources while leveraging federal funds.
Southern Maryland’s rural landscapes, including wooded areas, agricultural fields and waterfront communities, face wildland fire risks from dry conditions, lightning and human activity. Grants help departments maintain readiness in counties where volunteer staffing predominates. Charles County, with its mix of suburban growth and rural zones, received the most awards in the region. St. Marys and Calvert counties, with significant forested and coastal areas, also benefited.
The program operates annually with applications reviewed by the Maryland Forest Service. Funding originates from the USDA Forest Service through the Cooperative Fire Protection program, which supports state and local efforts to reduce wildfire hazards in communities. In fiscal year 2025, similar grants nationwide supported thousands of rural departments.
Maryland’s high approval rate reflects strong applications and program priorities for rural protection. Departments must demonstrate project alignment with wildland fire suppression needs.
These awards arrive amid ongoing discussions in Southern Maryland about volunteer fire department sustainability, including recruitment challenges and equipment costs. The grants provide direct support without requiring new local taxes.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the recipients in late December 2025. Departments will use funds for approved projects in the coming year.