For the eighth consecutive year, the California Fire Foundation (CFF) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation have partnered to award wildfire safety grants. In 2025, a total of $950,000 was distributed among 63 local fire departments, fire agencies, and nonprofit organizations primarily in Northern and Central California.
The annual grant program aims to help communities strengthen disaster preparedness and response. This year, the PG&E Foundation increased its contribution by $200,000 to expand support for community projects. The CFF received more than 190 applications during a month-long window before making its selections. Grants were distributed during National Preparedness Month, which is observed every September to promote awareness about disaster readiness.
Funding will be used by recipient organizations for personal protective equipment, specialized tools for firefighters, defensible space creation, vegetation management, fuel reduction efforts, hazard mitigation, and public education on fire safety.
In addition to the grant awards, the PG&E Foundation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are providing $1.65 million in charitable funding for CFF’s broader 2025 Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP). This program delivers wildfire safety resources across California with a focus on underserved areas at high risk for wildfires. It also includes public safety education campaigns in multiple languages.
Brian K. Rice, Chair of the California Fire Foundation said: “This time of year is critical for the California Fire Foundation as we review WSPP grant applications from fire departments, agencies, and nonprofits. Each application reinforces the urgent need for resources to help mitigate wildfire risk,” said Brian K. Rice, Chair of the California Fire Foundation. “The WSPP program is a lifeline for many of our firefighters, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of PG&E. With drought conditions, warmer temperatures, and drier months ahead, the threat of wildfire remains real. These grants allow us to equip local agencies with funding for vegetation management, fuel reduction, specialized equipment, community outreach, and essential protective gear.”
Since 2018, 431 grantees—including fire departments and agencies throughout California—have received $5.5 million through this initiative. The program continues to receive an increasing number of applications each year. Funding prioritizes areas identified as having elevated or extreme fire risk by state regulators.
Sumeet Singh, Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at PG&E stated: “PG&E has the privilege of serving 16 million people every day who live in 48 counties and 246 cities and towns in Northern and Central California,” said Sumeet Singh, EVP, Operations and Chief Operating Officer. “As the risk of wildfire continues to grow, partnerships like the one with the California Fire Foundation are critical for protecting the hometowns where our friends, families and neighbors live and work. By making homes and businesses fire-safe, by providing firefighters with the tools and equipment they need, by raising awareness of how we all can prevent wildfires — we are truly making everyone and everything safer.”
During this year’s grant cycle there were 196 applications requesting a combined total of $4.29 million in funding from agencies statewide.
Overall support from PG&E Corporation Foundation and PG&E has reached $10.45 million since this partnership began—with over half directed toward community-based grants supporting fire prevention efforts in high-risk locations.
The CFF’s Firefighters on Your Side initiative—also supported by PG&E—delivers multilingual fire safety messages through digital and print materials designed to reach diverse communities.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company is a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation that provides natural gas and electricity service to more than 16 million people across Northern and Central California (covering approximately 70,000 square miles). For additional information about their programs or services visit https://www.pge.com/ or https://www.pge.com/news/.
More information about CFF’s programs can be found at https://www.cafirefoundation.org/.
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