The Emergency Services Provider Fund (ESPF) assists volunteer first responder organizations in Nova Scotia with projects that enhance emergency response capabilities and help ensure Nova Scotians' safety.

The Emergency Service Regional Funding stream supports projects that address the collective needs of multiple emergency response organizations across a broader geographic area. A first responder organization must undertake projects in partnership with a municipality and should support coordinated, region-wide preparedness, response and recovery.

Eligible Applicants

• Fire departments
• Ground search and rescue organizations
• HAZMAT organizations
• Other first responder organizations in Nova Scotia that did not receive ESPF funding in 2025–26

Regional projects must involve a partnership between a first responder organization and a municipality.

Organizations must be in compliance with all reporting requirements before applying, including fire incident reports.

Eligible Activities and Costs

• Major equipment and specialized vehicles or trailers to support regional needs
• Regional training facilities
• Shared equipment pools, including SCBA cascade trailers/locations, drones, rope or swift-water kits, remote rescue kits and rehab units
• Regional mobile command units
• Multi-purpose UTVs/ATVs for wildland and search and rescue missions
• Regional hazard and vulnerability analyses to support building protection strategies
• Regional risk reduction strategies and public education projects
• Regional exercise and training programs, including after-action reviews to improve regional capabilities
• Regional FireSmart program enhancements
• Mental health resiliency programs

Ineligible Costs

• Operating and administrative costs
• Firefighting apparatus and typical passenger vehicles
• Vehicle upgrades
• Equipment not used directly in response to a fire or emergency situation