Boots Refuel Fund
"Helping Fund The Foundation For
Our Wildland Firefighters Feet."
Our Application Process
This is a new program from our small grassroots organization here in 2024. The initial launch funding is at $5000 of support. We hope to growth this on a quarterly basis through public awareness and sharing to help us grow more public donations into this fund and future lottery drawings.
Qualifications: Please email the below requirements to fuelup@fuelfoundations.org and we will confirm your entry for our next lottery drawing.
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Please provide your Name, Contact Info, Crew Name. -
Please provide a photo of your RED CARD confirming your Wildland Fire active employment. -
Please clarify your boot award need: a. Resole, b. Rebuild, or c. New Boots -
Please clarify your preferred boot manufacturer which we will connect with directly and pay for the award. -
NOTE: Rebuilds are possible if you have handmade leather boots from brands like JK Boots, Nicks, Whites, etc.
FUEL Foundations is a 100% non-profit. 100% of all donations fuel our program(s).
"Helping Fund The Foundation For Our Wildland Firefighters Feet!"
When I was hired on to serve as a Hotshot with the USFS back in 2010, I had to invest wisely in my first pair of wildland fire boots for my rookie year. I always invested in the best gear I could research, which back then was around $450 US. One of the most essential pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Wildland Firefighters, are your boots. After my 2nd Hotshot season in 2011, I already needed them resoled, which was approximately $150 in repair costs. All Wildland Firefighters are on their feet, in their boots, for their entire shift. While assigned to a live wildfire, they will be in their boots 16+ hours a day and may hike hundreds of miles in a season. Here in 2024, those personal expenses have significantly increased.
Wildland Firefighters are in their boots for shifts of 16+ hours and can hike for hundreds of miles a season. Standard equipment requirements outlines boots of at least 8 inches high, lace-type, leather work boots, with melt-resistant lug soles, preferably NFPA Certified. Working with a top quality boot manufacturer means that many will offer repair services to increase the life of the boots. To replace the lugged soles or rebuild the leather uppers may cost $150-$300. To purchase new boots ranges from $400-$600 for a top tier of PPE boots.
This is a new grassroots program launched in 2024. Our initial available funding is at $5000 of support from our founder. We hope to grow this with quarterly raffle drawings. That will require more public awareness, sharing , and donations.
FUEL Foundations is a 100% non-profit. 100% of all donations fuel our program(s).
Additional Wildfire Boots Research
- US Forest Service – https://www.fs.usda.gov/
inside-fs/delivering-mission/ excel/update-safety-boot- reimbursement-program- increase-stipend-oct-1 - Wildfire Today Article – https://wildfiretoday.com/
2021/04/20/confusion-at-a- national-forest-as-requests- for-work-boot-stipends-is-six- times-what-was-expected/ - NFFE – National Federation of Federal Employees – https://nffe.org/nffe_news/
nffe-protects-wildland- firefighter-boot-stipend/ - Department of Interior BLM Boot Stipend – chrome-extension://
efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmk aj/https://www.nifc.gov/sites/ default/files/programs_ documents/CPC/agency_memos/ BLMBootStipendFA-IM-2023-015. pdf - International Associate of Wildland Fire – https://www.iawfonline.org/
scholarships/ - Wildfire Experience – Backbone Scholarship – https://wildfire-experience.
org/backbone-scholarship