Tennessee Volunteer Fire Departments Share $20 Million in Funding

Over 400 Tennessee volunteer fire departments will receive grants totaling $20 million in 2026 through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training (VFEAT) Grant Program, as announced by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO).

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.

The McKenzie Fire Department received $64,500 from the grant program. McKenzie Fire Chief Brian Tucker shared that this money will be appropriated towards a breathing air compressor to refill the firefighters' self-contained breathing apparatuses.

The Carroll County Fire Department (CCFD) received $56,628 in grant funding for new personal protection equipment (PPE) and firefighters' turnout gear.

"This funding will equip approximately 12 firefighters with updated, NFPA-compliant gear, improving safety and readiness while serving our community," said CCFD Fire Chief Jonathan Gaskins. "We are grateful for this support, which helps protect our firefighters while reducing the financial burden on Carroll County residents."

Other local fire departments selected to receive grant funding include City of Atwood, Town of Huntingdon, City of Gleason, City of Dresden, Cottage Grove Fire Department and Paris Landing Fire Department.

A complete list of departments receiving grants in 2026 (as well as those who received grants in 2025 and 2024) can be found on the TDCI website.

Since the program’s launch in 2020, grants totaling $46.5 million have been provided to Tennessee volunteer fire departments serving communities in Tennessee’s three Grand Divisions. The $20 million allocation for 2026 was the largest single amount allocated for VFEAT in its history.

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.