Alternative Funding for Fire and
Emergency Medical Services Departments

To deliver necessary protection for their respective communities, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Departments require adequate levels of funding for salaries, benefits, training, operating expenses and equipment. With increasing tax budgets and decreasing government subsidies, it is becoming increasingly difficult for fire and EMS departments to meet greater and more complex demands for their services.

To meet the critical needs of the community, departments must become proactive in the development of alternative funding mechanisms. Some of these alternatives include non-emergency patient transportation, contracted special event coverage, or billing for services exclusive of patient transportation.

EMS Monograph # 4, Revenue Recovery, examines alternative funding methods to traditional fee-for-service revenue generation.

Additionally, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), supported by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and in partnership with the International Fire Services Training Association (IFSTA), have released Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services (PDF, 3.7 Mb). The latest edition provides the most up to date information regarding funding for local level Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and fire departments. The document includes sources of federal funding as well as other new and innovative funding sources not discussed in previous editions. See more...

Finally, visit this site for links to information on the FIRE Act Grant Program administered by FEMA/USFA.