Fire Department Assistance Programs
Volunteer Fire Assistance Program
Each year MDC issues more than $300,000 in matching grants to qualifying Missouri rural fire departments. Those serving populations smaller than 10,000 people can purchase fire-fighting equipment and receive reimbursement for up to one-half of the purchase price.
Applications are available in December each year.
Federal Excess Property Program
Through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Conservation can secure excess federal equipment for fire control use. The equipment is processed at the Rural Forest Fire Equipment Center in Lebanon and redistributed to rural fire departments. Each year, the equipment center processes several thousand requests for fire-fighting vehicles and equipment. Equipment valued at about $4 million is distributed annually to fire departments.
