I will begin my article with an apology. I’m sure you have heard the old saying “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” Well, that would be my case here! I announced in the March-April magazine we had hired a new state fire mutual aid coordinator, well, that did not come to fruition. So, we have put the job back out for application. Until we find that individual, please contact Matt Luetkemeyer @ 573-751-1601 or 573-821-0937, matt.luetkemeyer@dfs.dps.mo.gov with any questions about fire mutual aid, fire department registration, National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), or anything related.
We are in the final few days of the 2024 legislative session. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have been busy massaging out a constitutional balanced budget and will have it on the Governor’s desk by May 10th at 6 p.m. Other legislative items are on a slow road. I was excited to see Representative Kyle Marquart file bill HB 2641. Working with Representative Tim Taylor who filed a similar bill last year. This new bill will create a pay formula to assist our volunteer firefighters in getting fair compensation when injured while in an emergency capacity. I am keeping an eye on this bill.
We have received several requests from across the state for firefighter training. Thank you! Your legislators have added $750,000 to our/your training budget. Now the ball is in our court to request training classes and spend these additional training dollars! We have never been in a position to have access to this amount of training dollars before! Let’s invest in training for our firefighters which makes them better at their jobs. Which is then passed onto our customers “Mr. & Ms. Smith!” If you run across one of your legislators, please thank them for their support with these training dollars!
I potentially see more opportunities coming for our Missouri fire service. Stay tuned!
Again, I will express, “Get to know who is running for public office at your local, county, state, and federal levels,” it matters!
In closing, in the March-April magazine, Keith Smith shared critical information about changes coming to the OSHA rules that affect our Nation’s/Missouri’s fire service. Please take the time to read and educate yourself on what is being presented by OSHA, it could be a game changer for many of the Missouri fire service! I am concerned!
Thank you each for everything you do across our state. Continue to educate yourselves and respond as the “Best boots on the ground,” and leave things better than you found them. Please practice Cancer prevention! It is an honor to serve as your State Fire Marshal. May God continue to watch over and keep you!
FFAM
