Emergency Services Provider Fund (ESPF)

Description

The Emergency Services Provider Fund (ESPF), administered by the Office of the Fire Marshal, offers financial assistance to volunteer fire departments and ground search and rescue organizations, including HAZMAT organizations, to upgrade equipment that is used directly in response to a fire or emergency. *This program is not currently accepting applications.

Use the Emergency Services Provider Fund Application Form to apply for funding to buy emergency response equipment.

The Emergency Services Provider Fund offers financial help to fire departments and ground search and rescue organizations, including hazardous materials (HAZMAT) organizations.

The Emergency Services Provider Fund has 2 different funding streams: emergency service regional funding and emergency service individual organization funding.

Regional Funding Stream

Regional Funding supports the collective needs of multiple emergency response organizations within a region. The funding helps to enhance coordinated, region-wide prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery efforts that benefit the entire geographic area.

Regional Funding provides financial support to fire departments, ground search and rescue organizations, and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) organizations working in partnership with a municipality. You need to use the funding to strengthen emergency services across a wider geographic area and enhance regional preparedness, response and recovery efforts.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs for Regional Funding include:

• major equipment and specialized vehicles and trailers to support options across a region
• regional training facility
• shared equipment pool like self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) cascade trailer or location, drones, rope or swift water kits, remote rescue kits and rehab units
• regional mobile command unit
• multi-purpose utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for wildland and search and rescue missions
• regional hazard and vulnerability analysis to assist in building protection strategies
• regional risk reduction strategies and public education projects
• regional exercise and training program with AAR (after-action review) to inform regional capabilities improvements
• regional fire smart program enhancements
• mental health resiliency programs

Ineligible costs include:

• operating and administrative costs
• new construction or upgrades to facilities (other than emergency power)
• equipment not used directly in the response to a fire or emergency situation

Individual Organization Funding Stream

Individual Organization Funding supports specific emergency service organizations. The funding helps independent initiatives that support the individual organization’s operational needs, equipment or programs that enhance their emergency response capabilities.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs for Individual Organization Funding include:

• personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
• communications equipment
• miscellaneous fire fighting equipment
• rescue equipment
• water supply and suppression equipment
• HAZMAT equipment
• emergency power for buildings

Ineligible costs include:

• operating and administrative costs
• vehicles of any type, including boats and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
• vehicle upgrades
• new construction or upgrades to facilities (other than emergency power)
• equipment not used directly in the response to a fire or emergency situation

Funding amount

The Emergency Services Provider Fund may fund up to 90% of eligible costs to a maximum of $30,000 for emergency service individual organization funding and $200,000 for emergency service regional funding.

Reporting requirements

If you receive funding from the Emergency Services Provider Fund, you need to submit a Statement of Expenditures within 60 days of completing the project.

Accessing the funding

Once a project is approved, the Department of Emergency Management provides an approval letter and terms and conditions that outline the conditions of the funding. The department provides the funding after you agree to the terms and conditions (and return the signed document).

Eligibility

You can apply for funding if you’re a:

• fire department
• ground search and rescue organization
• hazardous materials (HAZMAT) organization
• first responder organization

If you’re applying for the Regional Funding Stream, you need to be working in collaboration with other first responder organizations and a municipality.

Organizations can only receive funding once every 2 years.

Only money spent on costs between 1 October 2025 and 31 January 2027 is eligible for funding.

Individual organizations

For the current application intake period, you can apply for emergency service individual organization funding from 15 June 2025 to 30 July 2025.

Regional funding

For the current application intake period, you can apply for emergency service regional funding from 1 October 2025 to 1 December 2025.

How to apply

1. Review detailed program criteria in the Emergency Services Provider Fund (ESPF) Program Guidelines.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
4. Send your completed application and supporting documents by email.
5. Department of Emergency Management reviews your application after the submission deadline (this can take 6 to 8 weeks).

How long it takes

It should take 6 to 8 weeks for the Department of Emergency Management to review your funding application and let you know if your funding application is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your form hasn’t been filled in correctly.