Happy New Year to my fellow brothers and sisters in the Missouri Fire Service! From the smallest volunteer departments to our largest metro agencies, we all share the same mission. May your 2026 be filled with “all clear”, safe returns to the firehouses and bays, and the kind of station house camaraderie that makes this the Best Job in the world. Stay safe, continue being “The Best Boots” on the ground, “Leaving things better than you found them,” looking out for one another, and let’s have a great year in our Missouri Fire Service! A couple of friendly reminders that we push out every year at this time:
Fire Department Registration.
By state statute, each fire department must register annually at the beginning of the year. Your information is extremely valuable to us in several ways. A couple of examples: in March 2025, when the entire state was experiencing fires. We were at the State Emergency Operations Center, trying to connect you with other departments that could assist. We were using the data you provided in the fire department registration. The second example is the recent fire department grant opportunity. We were able to categorize the departments that were eligible and focus on them, and not overwhelm the departments that were not eligible. Please provide thorough and accurate information. Names, emails, and phone numbers really matter! Help us help you! I have provided the fire department registration link here: dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/resources/mo-fire-depts.php
Workers’ Compensation Grant
The state legislators have allocated funds to support our Volunteer Fire departments’ workers’ compensation insurance. This grant will pay up to $2000 to offset your workers’ compensation insurance. Visit the link to see if you’re eligible: dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/other/vfpa-wc-insurance-grant-program.php
Firefighters Day at the Capitol
Save the date for April 1, 2026. We are on the books to host our annual Firefighters’ Day at the Capitol. This year, our theme or special guest will be our Fire Service Instructors, along with our contracted fire service educational vendors. If you are a Fire Service Instructor 1 or 2, please attend. We want to recognize you. If you are a contracted training provider for the Division, please attend. We want to recognize you.
This is a great time to come to Jefferson City and interact with your fellow fire service brothers and sisters. On the morning of April 1, at 10 a.m., we will hold a legislative update meeting on the 13th floor. At that time, we will provide you with topics of interest to engage your legislators.
On December 19, 2025, the President signed the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act, enabling certain cancers to be considered eligible
I am excited to share a landmark win for firefighters and first responders nationwide. On December 19, 2025, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act” was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, finally expanding the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (POSB) program to include occupational cancer as a line of duty death or disability for firefighters and other public safety officers.
For decades, the PSOB programs provided federal death and disability benefits for firefighters killed or permanently disabled in traumatic incidents, but did not recognize most job-related cancers, despite cancer being the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. This omission left many families without the federal support they deserve.
What Changed?
Under the new law, when a firefighter’s cancer is linked to on-the-job exposure to carcinogens and meets the statute’s eligibility conditions, it is presumed to be a line-of-duty injury for PSOB. This presumption applies if:
- The firefighter’s exposure occurred during official duties
- The firefighter’s served at least 5 years before diagnosis
- The cancer was diagnosed within 15 years of last active service, and
- The cancer directly and proximately resulted in death or permanent and total disability
- The law is retroactive for the past 5 years
Cancers Covered Under the New PSOB Law
The law defines “exposure-related cancer” to include the following types: Badder cancer, Brain cancer, Breast cancer, Cervical cancer, Colon/Colorectal cancer, Esophageal cancer, Kidney cancer, Leukemia, Lung cancer, Malignant melanoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Ovarian cancer, Prostate cancer, Skin cancer, Stomach cancer, Testicular cancer, Thyroid cancer.
In addition to these, the law also established a process to add additional cancers in the future as science evolves.
What this means for firefighters and families
This legislation acknowledges the harsh reality firefighters face – repeated exposure to smoke, chemicals, carcinogens, and hazardous environments – and finally aligns federal benefits with that reality. Surviving families of firefighters who lost their lives to one of these covered cancers now may be eligible for the same PSOB benefits long available for traumatic line-of-duty deaths.
National Emergency Response Information System “NERIS”
First, I will start with “Thank You Joshua Couture” for your work, along with all the fire departments who have done their part in transitioning to the new federal fire reporting system. I know Joshua averaged 8 hours a day on the phone for several weeks to help get your old information moved over to this new system. We will continue to be here for the departments that need to get on board with the NERIS fire reporting system. The new system is a much better platform for reporting your fire calls. What I appreciate about NERIS is that the data will be available instantaneously. You do not need an off-the-shelf fire reporting program to use the NERIS system. For those who have not heard about the NERIS system, here is information.
The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is a modern, cloud-based platform that enables fire departments nationwide to collect data faster, report more effectively, and perform deeper analytics. Designed as a mobile-first solution, NERIS replaces the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and provides timely intelligence to improve emergency response. Backed by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), NERIS empowers departments to make data-informed decisions that enhance resource management and coordination. Here are the links to the system and resources:
safetyscience.my.site.com/neris/
neris-dev-public.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/docs/NERIS%2B-Vendor-Integration-Enrollment.pdf
neris-dev-public.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/docs/NERIS-beta-schema-executive-guide.pdf
neris.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portals
Missouri Fire Fatalities are Up
The fire fatalities across our state ticked up in 2025. The numbers I share are from our collected data system. We do not collect every fire death (I wish we did), so this number is likely higher. Across Missouri, 118 people lost their lives due to fire. In 2024, we had 107. It concerns me that there is an increase. I know on a number of these deaths it was discovered there were no smoke alarms, or they were not working. I know that the Missouri fire service consistently pushes the message “Smoke Alarms Save Lives”, and they do, because we have examples of Missourians who have received the early alert and were able to get out of their home safely. You can still get free smoke alarms for your residents in your communities. Let’s continue educating our communities about fire prevention; it will make a difference!
Missouri Fire Service Recognition Program
Several years ago, I implemented a program designed to recognize members of the Missouri Fire Service in these categories:
Any firefighter who has passed away and served the Missouri Fire Service
Any firefighter who has retired or will be retiring from the Missouri Fire Service
These certificates will be mailed to the fire department for presentation to the firefighter or family on my behalf.
If you have anyone in your organization who meets the above criteria, please use the link below and submit the information to our office so that a recognition certificate may be issued: arcg.is/0DCiSz
Also, take a moment to read this article. It has good insights on hiring volunteer firefighters: firerescue1.com/recruitment/how-to-hire-new-nontraditional-volunteer-firefighters
In closing, I am excited about what opportunities 2026 will bring. I am here to serve you! If I can be of any assistance, please reach out by email (tim.bean@dfs.dps.mo.gov) or by cell at 573-645-2069. I’m available 24/7. It is an honor and a privilege to serve alongside our Missouri Fire Service. Let’s continue to be the “Best Boots on the Ground” and “Leave Something Better Than You Found It”.
FFAM
