Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant

The Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA) was awarded an impressive $1,169,341.44 in SAFER Grant funding, covering a period from November 29, 2021, through November 28, 2025. This critical funding provides valuable support to volunteer fire departments across Nebraska, helping them recruit, equip, and retain the dedicated individuals who serve their communities.

Through the SAFER Grant, the NSVFA offers a range of impactful resources and programs designed to strengthen local firefighting capabilities and ensure safety standards:

  • PPE Reimbursement for New Recruits: Ensuring new firefighters have access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE), supporting safety from their first day on the job.

  • Marketing Recruitment Kits: Providing departments with customized recruitment materials to engage prospective firefighters, raise awareness of volunteer opportunities, and promote community involvement.

  • Train-the-Trainer Programs: Empowering experienced firefighters to mentor and train new recruits, helping to establish a strong foundation of skills, knowledge, and confidence among incoming personnel.

  • Leadership and Recruitment Training: Offering specialized training sessions focused on leadership development and effective recruitment strategies, equipping fire departments with the tools to build sustainable and motivated teams.

The SAFER Grant is a transformative investment in Nebraska’s volunteer fire services, ensuring communities have the protection they need and fostering a new generation of firefighters ready to serve.

Personal Protective Equipment & Physical Reimbursement

Personal Protective Equipment, required documents:

  • Invoice and Proof of Payment for costs of personal protection equipment for new recruit withrecruit’s name referenced; reimbursable items include boots, pants, coats, gloves, (ANSI)-approved retro-reflective hoods, goggles, and helmets.

  • NFPA 1582 Physician Sign Off form or Fit for Duty Form for the Volunteer.

  • The newly recruited member must complete or be enrolled in Firefighter-1 level training (ordepartmental equivalent) prior to receiving reimbursement for PPE.

  • Newly recruited members must pass an NFPA physical prior to requesting grant funds for thePPE.

  • Up to $3,600 reimbursement per set of full structural PPE. The ensemble will only be provided to new firefighters recruited since the start of the grant program (11/29/2021).

  • All PPE paid for with these grant funds must be delivered to the department before the grant ends on November 28, 2025.

Physical, required documents:

  • Completed NFPA 1582 Physician Sign Off Form or Fit for Duty signed form.

  • Invoice and Proof of Payment with Volunteer’s name referenced.

  • Up-to $500 per NFPA 1582 physical examination is eligible for reimbursement.

  • You may use your own Primary Care Provider to complete this physical.

  • Newly recruited Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for this benefit.

Marketing Recruitment Kits

Kit #1 - Real Heroes

Kit #2 - Emergency Responder

Kit #3 - Your Department

Kit #4 - Call to Duty

Kit #5 - Serve Your Community

Kit #6 - Gear Up

Kit #7 - Join Us