MFA awards grants to 28 volunteer fire departments
Story and photos by Allison Jenkins
Thanks to a partnership between the MFA Charitable Foundation and the University of Missouri Extension Fire and Rescue Training Institute, 28 volunteer fire departments recently received much-needed grants for training, equipment and resources to help save lives and protect property.
Thanks to a partnership between the MFA Charitable Foundation and the University of Missouri Extension Fire and Rescue Training Institute (FRTI), 28 volunteer fire departments recently received much-needed grants for training, equipment and resources to help save lives and protect property.
The grants were presented Feb. 7 at the FRTI Winter Fire School in Columbia, the largest gathering of emergency professionals in Missouri. The conference provides in-depth workshops and courses on issues and challenges that are critical to all emergency services professionals.
“Since the Volunteer Fire Grant program’s inception in 2019, the goal has always been to help those departments that were truly in need of funding to serve their communities. MFA and the Fire and Rescue Training Institute partner in doing just that,” said FRTI Director Harry Ward. “I am confident that the funding provided by MFA will help these departments provide for safer firefighters and safer communities.”
What started as an initial investment from MFA for $30,000 has grown to $50,000 annually. In total, the program has now awarded more than $236,000 to 158 departments statewide since 2019.
The program also includes two other organizations as part of the grant process, Ward explained. The Fire Fighters Association of Missouri and State Fire Marshal assist in awarding this funding to ensure a non-bias review of the applications.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Missouri has 773 registered fire departments, and nearly 84% are volunteer or mostly volunteer. These entities are largely dependent on donations, not tax dollars, to run their operations.
The following departments were on hand to accept their grant awards Feb. 7 at the FRTI Winter Fire School. Jason Weirich, MFA senior vice president of operations, presented the awards along with Larry Jennings, president of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri; Jerry Jenkins, FRTI staff; and Tim Bean, state fire marshal.
The entire list of volunteer fire departments awarded grants for 2024 were:
- Alton Volunteer Fire Department
- Baring Volunteer Fire Department
- Brixey & Rockbridge Fire Department
- Bucklin Volunteer Fire Department
- Buffalo Rural Fire Department
- Callao Fire Protection District
- Caufield Membership Fire Department
- Cedar Creek Fire Protection District
- DeKalb Fire Protection District
- Dixon Rural Fire Protection District
- East Lynn Gunn City Fire Protection District
- Fairfax Fire Protection District
- Long Lane Volunteer Fire Department
- Louisiana Fire Department
- Martinsburg Fire Protection District
- Montauk Rural Fire Department
- Osborn Fire Protection District
- Portageville Fire Department
- Qulin Fire Protection District
- Shelby Community Fire Department
- Slater Volunteer Fire Department
- Tunas Fire Department
- Tuscumbia Fire Protection District
- Tyrone Rural Volunteer Fire Department
- Urbana Rural Fire Department
- Urich Volunteer Fire Department
- Washburn Volunteer Fire Department
- Zell Volunteer Fire Department
The MFA grant application period opens every year on Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Depending on the availability of funds, 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.
If any volunteer fire departments in your area would like 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.