Posted: September 29, 2025
Cal Water opened its seventh annual Firefighter Grant Program today to fire departments in its districts, as part of its ongoing commitment to-and partnership with-local first responders. Professional and volunteer fire departments that serve any part of Cal Water's service areas are eligible to apply for funding that will offset costs for life-saving fire protection equipment, training, and education.
With its 2024 cycle, Cal Water's Firefighter Grant Program surpassed the $1 million mark, providing grants to 27 local fire departments since the program started in 2019. Last year, grants ranged from $10,800 to $38,400 to fund equipment such as ballistic helmets and vests, portable radios, specialized wildland firefighting personal protective equipment, cardiac EKG monitors, mental wellness coaching, and refurbishment of training towers.
"Beyond being a water provider, we are a community partner and extend our focus beyond the water to coordinating emergency response activities and supporting our local fire departments' need for essential gear and life-saving equipment," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. "It has been exciting to see how these 27 fire departments have used more than $1 million in grants to help better protect their communities and be better prepared for local emergencies."
For more information about the Firefighter Grant Program or to apply, applicants can visit the Firefighter Grant Program page or email [e-mail protegido]. The application period for this year's cycle will be open through 5 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Cal Water plans to notify grant recipients in late fall.
To date, the following fire departments have received grants through Cal Water's Firefighter Grant Program:
- Departamento de Bomberos de Bakersfield
- Departamento de Bomberos de Chico
- Distrito de protección contra incendios de Colma
- Departamento de Bomberos de Dixon
- Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Kern
- Departamento de Bomberos de King City
- Livermore-Departamento de Bomberos de Pleasanton
- Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Los Angeles
- Departamento de Bomberos de Marysville
- Departamento de Bomberos de Montebello
- Distrito regional de protección contra incendios del condado de Monterey
- North County Fire Authority (Daly City)
- Distrito de Protección contra Incendios de Northshore
- Departamento de Bomberos de Oroville
- Departamento de Bomberos de Redondo Beach
- Redwood City Fire Department
- Russian River Fire Protection District
- Departamento de Bomberos de Salinas
- Departamento de Bomberos de Selma
- Sonoma County Fire District
- South San Francisco Fire Department
- Stockton Fire Foundation
- Departamento de Bomberos de Sunnyvale
- Distrito de protección contra incendios de Ventura County
- Departamento de Bomberos de Visalia
- Distrito de protección contra incendios Woodside
- Departamento de Bomberos de Willows
The grants are part of California Water Service Group's stockholder-funded philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers' rates.
