May 29th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - Missouri is investing more than $1.4 million into volunteer fire departments across the state, including departments in Ironton and Leadington, to help improve emergency response and firefighting capabilities in rural communities.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety announced that a total of $1.455 million has been awarded to 108 volunteer fire departments through the Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program.
The grant program provided up to $15,000 to small volunteer fire departments with annual operating budgets of $50,000 or less. The funding is intended to help departments purchase critical firefighting and emergency response equipment that can otherwise be difficult to afford in rural communities.
Local recipients of the funding include the Ironton Fire Department and the Leadington Fire Department.
Governor Mike Kehoe said Missouri firefighters continue to protect communities from fires, natural disasters, and other emergencies every day.
Kehoe said the funding is being used exactly as intended - to provide essential firefighting and safety equipment to smaller volunteer departments whose members serve their communities selflessly whenever they respond to emergencies.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the most requested equipment included firefighter turnout gear, extrication equipment, self-contained breathing apparatuses, interoperable radios and repeaters, hoses, nozzles, power tools, and saws.
Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said the funding will help provide critically important equipment to departments that often operate with tight budgets while serving as a lifeline for rural communities.
The Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program was first announced in October of 2025. Departments receiving the grants were required to provide a five percent local cash match toward equipment purchases.
The grant performance period officially ended on May 15, 2026.