JEFFERSON CITY – The Department of Public Safety has awarded a total of $1.455 million to 108 fire departments across the state to bolster the firefighting capabilities of small volunteer departments that provide critical protection to their rural communities. The Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant provided up to $15,000 for the purchase of equipment to small volunteer departments with annual operating budgets of $50,000 or less, where resources for essential firefighting equipment can be strained.
“Missouri’s firefighters stand guard, protecting our communities from fires, natural disasters and other emergencies each and every day,” Governor Mike Kehoe said. “We’re glad to see this funding put to work for precisely the reason we created the grant – to provide essential firefighting and safety equipment to the smallest volunteer departments, whose members define selfless community service each time they respond to a call.”
The most requested items were firefighter turnout gear, extrication equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and interoperable radios and repeaters for communication. There was also strong demand for basic supplies like hoses, nozzles, power tools and saws.
“We are extremely pleased to see this funding supplying vitally important equipment to agencies that, despite their small size and tight budgets, provide a true lifeline to the small, rural communities they serve,” Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “The 108 volunteer firefighting agencies that received this funding make tremendous sacrifices and take on great risks to themselves in order to protect their neighbors and small businesses that are crucial to their communities.”
DPS announced the first-ever Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant in October 2025. There was a 5% local cash match, which means for equipment costing $15,789.47, the local match share would be $789.47 and the state share of 95% would be $15,000. The performance period of the grant ended May 15, 2026.
Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant Recipients
Advance Fire Department
Alton Fire Department
Arbyrd Volunteer Fire Department
Atlanta Volunteer Fire Department
City of Auxvasse
Baring Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Bell City Volunteer Fire Department
Bellflower Volunteer Fire Protection District
Bennett Spring Fire Protection District
Benton Fire Department
Bolckow Fire Protection District
Bradleyville Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Brandsville Fire Protection District
Brixey-Rockbridge Volunteer Fire Department
Bronaugh Community Fire Protection Association
Browning Rural Fire Department
Bucklin and New Boston Volunteer Fire Department
Bunker Volunteer Fire Department
City of Cardwell
Caulfield Membership Fire Department
Cedar Creek Fire Protection District
Chamois Fire Protection District
Clarence Fire Department
Clark County Fire Corporation
Cloud 9 Ranch Volunteer Fire Department
Cooter Volunteer Fire Department
City of Crane
Cross Timbers Rural Fire Department
Curryville Fire Protection District
Dadeville Rural Fire Protection District
Downing Community Fire Association
Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Fire Department
Edina Fire Department
Eleven Point Rural Fire Department
Fillmore Fire Protection District
Frankford Fire Department
Frankford/Ashburn Volunteer Rural Fire Department
Freeburg Community Fire Association
Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department
Galt Fire Protection District
Gatewood Volunteer Fire Department
City of Gideon
Goodhope Fire Department
Gorin District Volunteer Fire Department
Graham Fire Protection District
Grandin Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Green Ridge Community Fire Department
Greentop Fire Association
Grovespring Area Fire Protection Association
Highway K Volunteer Fire Department
Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department
Hornersville Fire Department
Ironton Fire Department
Jadwin Volunteer Fire Department
Kahoka Fire Department
Knox City Volunteer Fire Department
Lake Road FF14/FF17 Volunteer Fire Department
Leadington Fire Department
Liberty Township Fire Protection District
Licking Rural Fire Department
Lilbourn Volunteer Fire Department
Linneus Fire Protection District
Long Lane Volunteer Fire Department
Lowndes Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
Maitland Volunteer Fire Protection District
Martinsburg Area Fire Protection District
Matthews Volunteer Fire Department
Mayview Fire Protection District
Meadville Community Fire Protection District
Miller City Fire Department
Missouri State Fair Fire Department
Montauk Rural Fire Department
Morehouse Fire Rescue
Myrtle Fire Department
New London City Volunteer Fire Department
New London Rural Volunteer Fire Department
Norwood Community Volunteer Fire Department
Novelty-Plevna Community Rural Fire Department
Osage Valley Fire Protection District
Osborn Fire Protection District
Portageville Rural Fire Department
Pumpkin Center Fire Protection District
Qulin Fire Protection District
Raymondville Volunteer Fire Department
Revere Volunteer Fire Department
Rhineland Area Volunteer Fire Department
Ripley County Fire Department
Rosendale Fire Protection District
Senath Fire Department
Shelby Rural Fire Department
Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department
Squires Volunteer Fire Department
City of Stockton
Stotts City Fire Protection District
Tecumseh Volunteer Fire Department
City of Thayer
Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department
Timber Community Fire Protection District
Tri-C Volunteer Fire Department
Tunas Volunteer Fire Department
Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department
Urbana Rural Fire Department
Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department
Wappapello Volunteer Fire Department
Wardell Fire Department
Wayland Fire Protection Association
Webb Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Whitewater Fire Protection District