Project funding applications open for NFPA and State Farm Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

$10,000 project funding for Wildfire Community Preparedness day

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm have opened applications for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day project funding for activities planned on Saturday 2 May 2026.

Eligible nonprofit organisations can apply for $10,000 to support wildfire risk reduction projects delivered on the day.

Applications must be submitted by Friday 13 February 2026 to be considered.

NFPA said the initiative is aimed at groups and individuals living in wildfire-prone areas completing projects intended to help make homes and communities safer from wildfire.

What the funding is for

Michele Steinberg, Director of the Wildfire Division at NFPA, said: “Preparedness Day presents an ideal opportunity for groups and individuals who live in wildfire-prone areas to come together on a single day and complete projects that can help make their homes and communities safer from wildfire.

“Funding for the 2026 Preparedness Day campaign supports organizations with thoughtful, community-driven plans that help homeowners take meaningful steps to protect what matters most from the threat of wildfire.”

NFPA said Preparedness Day is designed around science-based steps to reduce or remove potential fire hazards from a home and its immediate surroundings.

It said the steps are intended to help protect against embers and radiant heat from wildfires.

Examples of wildfire risk reduction work

NFPA said typical activities can include simple, low-cost home improvement projects to reduce wildfire exposure.

Examples listed include clearing dead leaves, debris and pine needles from roofs and gutters.

It also cited keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.

Another example given was removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn.

State Farm support for the campaign

Rasheed Merritt, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Assistant Vice President, said: “At State Farm, part of our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life.

“State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger, better educated communities.”

Merritt said Preparedness Day aims to motivate people to take action, and he said that was why State Farm continues to support the campaign each year.

What this means for wildfire prevention planning

Fire and rescue chiefs, emergency and disaster response managers and local government departments may use the May 2026 date as a fixed point for coordinating community-facing wildfire risk reduction activity.

Fire safety officers, risk assessors and fire engineering consultants may see applications that reference practical measures around ember exposure and heat, based on the examples NFPA set out for work around homes and immediate surroundings.

Procurement officers and facility managers responsible for community sites may need to align any support offered to local nonprofits with the $10,000 project funding limit and the Friday 13 February 2026 application deadline.

Training officers and instructors involved in public education may also use the campaign framing to support consistent messaging about specific, low-cost actions that can be completed in a single day.

Why NFPA and State Farm want you to check your chargers

by AmericasAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsSafety

NFPA and State Farm launch 2025 Fire Prevention Week campaign

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm once again joined forces for the ninth consecutive year to support Fire Prevention Week, running from 5–11 October 2025.

The campaign, themed “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-ion Batteries in the Home,” aims to educate the public about the potential fire risks linked to lithium-ion batteries found in common household devices.

According to the NFPA, State Farm will distribute 4,782 Fire Prevention Week toolkits to local fire departments across 48 US states.

Each toolkit contains educational materials such as brochures, posters and magnets that departments will share at community events, schools and open houses.

Campaign focuses on household battery fire risks

NFPA Director of Public Education Kelly Ransdell said the collaboration helps extend vital safety information to more communities.

Kelly Ransdell, Director of Public Education at NFPA, said: “The proactive support we receive from State Farm each year strengthens our ability to reach the public with critical fire safety messages.

“It also allows us to focus on where risk is greatest – in homes, where the majority of US fire deaths occur each year.”

Ransdell explained that most household electronics, including smartphones, tablets, e-cigarettes, laptops and toys, use lithium-ion batteries that can present fire hazards if not handled properly.

She said the joint initiative with State Farm will help more residents understand how to buy, charge and recycle these batteries safely.

State Farm reinforces community fire safety mission

Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at State Farm, said: “Helping people manage the risks of everyday life is a fundamental part of our mission.

“Through our collaboration with NFPA and local fire departments, we are actively getting timely information to the public that can help reduce their risk to home fires.”

The NFPA has led Fire Prevention Week for more than a century, maintaining its role as the official sponsor of the campaign to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.

Further details and resources for this year’s campaign are available at www.fpw.org.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The NFPA and State Farm partnership directly supports public education efforts that local fire departments depend on during Fire Prevention Week.

Fire safety officers, community risk reduction teams and training coordinators can use the distributed toolkits to improve outreach around lithium-ion battery risks.

Electrical safety specialists and residential fire investigators may also find the campaign’s focus on battery use and charging practices valuable for developing prevention messaging.

By emphasising home-based fire prevention, the campaign offers practical materials for departments seeking to engage residents and reduce domestic fire incidents linked to emerging battery technologies.