On behalf of the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI), the University was awarded a 2019 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant. MU FRTI is excited to announce we have received $60,000 from the total $165,000 that was gifted. These funds will support specialized training for Missouri emergency responders that respond to traffic incidents. MU FRTI has the opportunity to train more responders and hopefully reduce the severity of these incidents and possibly reduce highway fatalities. In these types of emergency incidents, the safety of the individuals involved and that of the first responders are at stake.

This project includes delivering two training courses in each of Missouri’s nine Highway Patrol Troop Regions. The Vehicle Rescue Technician course provides training to emergency first responders on how to extricate vehicle accident victims safely and effectively. These skills enable responders to deliver victims to medical care faster and in turn improve those patients' chances of survival. The Vehicle Firefighting course provides safe and efficient strategies and tactics to extinguish vehicle fires based upon the latest vehicle designs. Vehicle fires in Missouri are a concern as current data indicates, Missouri firefighters responded to an average of eight vehicle fires per day.

Director Kevin Zumwalt acknowledged the importance of the funding support for training by saying, "This training project, supported by State Farm, will provide critical training to local emergency responders to protect their safety as well as the citizens they serve." The funding provided to MU FRTI is part of a larger overall gift to the University of Missouri and intended to support a variety of University educational initiatives.

The Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants provided by State Farm Companies Foundation® and State Farm® help build safer, stronger and better-educated communities across the United States. The grants focus on three areas: safety, education, and community development.

MU FRTI is a unit of MU Extension and is charged with the responsibility of providing comprehensive continuing professional education training to Missouri’s fire service and emergency service professionals. The Institute provides training to an average of 13,000 fire and emergency service first responders each year.