COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every year at the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute’s Winter Fire School, hundreds of firefighters from Missouri and surrounding states learn the latest skills, tools and technology available to firefighters and first responders.

This year, MU FRTI and the MFA Foundation recognized the first recipients of the MFA Volunteer Fire Grant program Feb. 7 at the Winter Fire School in Columbia. Established in 2019 to provide matching funds to local fire departments, the grant program is open to jurisdictions registered with the state of Missouri. In this inaugural round of awards, 19 departments received a total of $30,175.

MU FRTI Director Kevin Zumwalt said the program is administered in collaboration with the Missouri Fire Fighters Association and the Missouri State Fire Marshal to support equipment and training for departments around the state. “We think this is a first-of-its-kind collaboration, and we’re really grateful for the support and partnership of the MFA Foundation and other partners who make it possible,” Zumwalt said.

MFA Volunteer Fire Grants went to fire departments in Bell City, Curryville, Dadeville, Fairfax, Green Ridge, Greentop, Lenox, Marion County, Polo, Prairie Home, Sarcoxie, Sedgewickville, Sheridan, Slater, Summersville, Sumner, Tri-C, Vandalia and Vichy. Award amounts ranged from $550 to $2,000.

“Fire and rescue protection is very important to MFA and our customers in rural areas, and our charitable foundation gets multiple requests for donations to assist these local departments with equipment purchases or other worthy projects,” said Craig Childs, MFA Inc. vice president of Agri Services. “MU Extension’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute has done an excellent job of training emergency responders about grain entrapment rescues, so we felt like they would be a great partner to help determine the best opportunities for MFA to invest more money in rural fire districts.”

“We are thankful to have people here in the state that care so much about the fire service and men and women who serve,” said Brian Sneed, chief of the Dadeville Rural Fire Protection District.

Photos available for this release:

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The MFA Volunteer Fire Grant program awarded 19 Missouri fire departments a total of $30,175. Recipients were recognized Feb. 7, 2020, during the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute’s Winter Fire School in Columbia.

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Pictured, from left, Fire Fighters Association of Missouri President Kenneth Hoover; MFA Inc. executive assistant and assistant corporate secretary Pam Hiller; Dadeville Rural Fire Protection District Chief Brian Sneed; MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute Director Kevin Zumwalt; MFA Inc. Senior Vice President of Agri Services Craig Childs; and Missouri State Fire Marshal Tim Bean.