U.S. Wildland Fire Service BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Primary Announcement
🏛 Bureau of Land Management
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and research institutions studying wildland fire science. Eligible applicants typically include universities, government research facilities, nonprofits, and other institutions conducting fire regime and smoke impacts research. Projects must address specific research needs in one of two topic areas: drivers of changing wildfire regimes, or smoke impacts from prescribed and wild fire. The program funds collaborative research between scientists and fire/land managers.
Applicants must be able to conduct rigorous empirical or modeling research over the typical project period. Partnerships with fire management agencies are encouraged but not always required. Cost-sharing is not required to apply.
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Program description
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program is soliciting proposals in two topic areas: (1) drivers of changing wildfire regimes and consequences for wildfire risk factors and (2) smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire.
1. Drivers of changing wildfire regimes and consequences for wildfire risk factors
The objective of this task statement is to increase understanding of the drivers and consequences of changing wildfire regimes to inform future management and monitoring plans that accelerate adaptation to these altered regimes that reduce wildland fire risk factors.
JFSP is asking potential investigators to address the following research needs in this task statement. Potential investigators must address all three research needs to be considered responsive to the task statement.
· Research that leads to improved models, datasets, or other tools to more accurately forecast future fire regimes and consequences for ecosystems and valued resources (e.g., communities, infrastructure, municipal watersheds).
· In collaboration with fire and land managers, use of improved models, datasets, or other tools to explore scenarios of future fire regimes and consequences for ecosystems and valued resources, identify potential tipping points, and feedback mechanisms for accelerated change.
· In collaboration with fire and land managers, devise potential monitoring protocols to detect potential tipping points or other indicators of change.
2. Smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire
The objectives of this task statement are 1) to better understand the impacts of prescribed fire and wildfire on smoke emissions – to inform appropriate timing, frequency, and extent of prescribed fire programs that maximize ecological benefits while minimizing air quality impacts on communities, and 2) to inform a standardized methodology for tracking prescribed fire emissions.
To contribute to understanding of smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire, JFSP is asking potential investigators to address the following research needs. Proposals must address all three research needs to be responsive to the task statement.
· Empirical, observational, and/or simulation studies that document the spatial and temporal scales at which prescribed fire programs influence one or more characteristics of subsequent wildfire regime (e.g., patterns of frequency, extent, intensity, or severity) and how relationships between prescribed fire and wildfire regimes differ by various factors (e.g., region, fuel type, disturbance history, interactions with mechanical treatments).
· Studies that evaluate and/or validate methodologies for tracking and/or predicting emissions from prescribed fire.
· Studies that extend the findings on relationships between prescribed fire and wildfire regimes (from research need 1) and evaluation of methods (from research need 2) to implications for air quality and related public health and/or the effectiveness of mitigation strategies on acute health impacts related to air quality.
Please consult the JFSP database for the specific requirements on each individual task statement, https://www.firescience.gov/
All proposals must be submitted by September 17, 2026, 5:00 pm MT, using the electronic submission process provided by the JFSP website (https://www.firescience.gov).
Proposals cannot be submitted through Grants.gov. No exceptions are allowed to this closing date or time.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Electronic submission via JFSP portal
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of institutional support or partnerships with fire management agencies
- CV or biographical information for key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Patricia Glass Grantor
- 📧 pglass@blm.gov
- 📞 8015732957
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.232 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$659,000
-
$643,948
-
$606,000
-
$606,000
-
$604,000
-
$524,000
-
$524,000
-
$524,000
-
$523,997
-
$523,941
Top States by Funding
- CA 11 awards $3.7M
- CO 11 awards $3.0M
- AZ 7 awards $2.2M
- OR 5 awards $2.1M
- FL 4 awards $2.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.232). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $834,175 | |
| 2020 | $4,287,160 | |
| 2021 est. | $3,200,000 | |
| 2022 | $1,211,897 | |
| 2023 | $13,294,678 | |
| 2024 | $8,534,531 | |
| 2025 est. | $330,269 | |
| 2026 est. | $500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, government research institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations conducting fire science research. Individual researchers typically apply through their institution.
What are the two topic areas?
Topic 1 focuses on drivers of changing wildfire regimes and risk factors. Topic 2 addresses smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire.
Do proposals need to address all research needs listed?
Yes. Proposals must address all three research needs within their chosen topic area to be considered responsive.
What is the typical award size?
Awards range from $300,000 to $500,000 per project. Total program funding is $4,000,000 across all awards.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. Cost-sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Address all three research needs in your chosen topic area. Incomplete proposals will be rejected.
- Emphasize collaboration with fire and land management agencies. Reviewers value real-world applicability.
- Use clear, accessible language when describing fire regime modeling or smoke impacts. Avoid jargon where possible.
- Budget sufficient time for data collection, analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Most successful projects are 2-3 years.
- Demonstrate how your research will inform actual management decisions. Theory alone is less competitive.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals addressing only one or two research needs instead of all three get rejected. Failing to include meaningful collaboration with fire managers or land management agencies weakens competitiveness. Studies that lack clear connection to operational fire management decisions score poorly with reviewers.
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