MFA expands support for volunteer fire departments

More Missouri volunteer fire departments are getting the training, equipment and critical resources they need in 2026, thanks to grants totaling more than $91,000 from the MFA Incorporated Charitable Foundation. The investment is nearly double that of previous years’ funding.

Through its partnership with the University of Missouri Extension Fire and Rescue Training Institute (FRTI), the MFA foundation awarded funding to 51 volunteer fire departments for requests ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 each. Since the program began in 2019, some $328,000 in grants have now been awarded to departments statewide.

“MFA is happy to increase our contribution this year and proud to support our rural fire departments. It’s important to us,” said Jason Weirich, MFA Incorporated chief operating officer. “They are our first responders—often the first ones on site when we have accidents or other issues that arise. We appreciate all that they do for the communities they serve.”

This year’s awards were presented Feb. 6 during the FRTI Winter Fire School in Columbia, the largest gathering of emergency services professionals in Missouri. The event offers in-depth workshops and training on issues critical to first responders.

“We really appreciate the relationship we’ve had with the MFA Charitable Foundation for the past six years,” said FRTI Educational Program Coordinator Gail Hagans-Reynolds. “And this year, MFA really surprised us. We were expecting another $50,000 award, but they decided to give us a lot more. That extra support will go even further to help those departments that are truly in need of funding to provide equipment for safer firefighters and safer communities.”

The program also includes two other organizations as part of the grant process, Hagans-Reynolds explained. The Fire Fighters Association of Missouri and State Fire Marshal assist in awarding this funding to ensure a non-biased review of the applications.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Missouri had 755 registered fire departments in 2025, and more than 83% are volunteer or mostly volunteer. These entities are largely dependent on donations, not tax dollars, to run their operations.

The MFA grant application period opens every year on Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. The goal is to provide grants to at least one recipient in each of the nine Fire Mutual Aid Regions in Missouri. Each agency must be registered with the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.

For more information on the program or instructions on how to apply for future funding, visit online at bit.ly/MFAfiregrant or email frti@missouri.edu.