Fire Marshal’s Update – November 2025

I’ll begin with “Happy Holidays.” It warms my heart to see Christmas trees already on display in the windows of homes in my neighborhood, along with Thanksgiving decorations. I do want to be found guilty of being thankful and remembering the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ’s birth, and him becoming my Lord and Savior. My hope and prayer are that you will also be found guilty of, and we practice this daily in our lives.

I would like to take a moment of personal privilege and express my appreciation for the outpouring of your thoughts, prayers, condolences, flowers, cards, text, phone calls and the ones who took time out of your busy schedules and attended the visitation and funeral of my dad, Joe R. Bean. My family and I are deeply grateful for your love and kindness. He is missed. There will be many firsts in my life moving forward, but I am working on seeing him, my mom and my sister sometime down the road. 

I reported in my last article about a $1.44 million grant available for volunteer fire departments with a budget of $50,000 or less. I checked with the Department of Public Safety grant managers as to how many have applied. As of Tuesday, November 4th, 49 had applied, and 16 applications were in edit status, meaning they are working on their application but haven’t fully submitted them yet. Here is the information for the grant! Please apply if your department meets the criteria!

SFY 2026 Volunteer Fire Department Grant (VFDG) 

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Grant Issued By
Missouri Department of Public Safety 

Funding Opportunity Title
SFY 2026 Volunteer Fire Department Grant (VFDG) 

Introduction
The Missouri Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce the funding opportunity for the Volunteer Fire Department Grant (VFDG). This state-administered program is funded through the State of Missouri. 

Program Description
The purpose of the VFDG is to provide grant funding for volunteer or combination fire department entities for fire protection. Fire protection entities include fire departments as defined in section 320.200(3) RSMo as an agency or organization that provides fire suppression and related activities, including, but not limited to, fire prevention, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous material response, or special operations to a population within a fixed and legally recorded geographical area. 

Period of Performance
5 months 

Projected Period of Performance Start Date
December 15, 2025 

Projected Period of Performance End Date
May 15, 2026 

Funding Instrument
Grant 

Maximum Award
$15,000.00 per applicant agency. Funds in the amount of $1,455,000.00 are available for this program.

Match Requirement
5% Cash (Hard) Match. For example, if the total cost of the project is $15,789.47, the recipient match share of 5% would be $789.47, and the state share of 95% would be $15,000.00. 

Eligible Applicants
Missouri volunteer or combination fire department entities with an annual operating budget of $50,000.00 or less. 

Fire protection entities include fire departments as defined in section 320.200(3) RSMo as an agency or organization that provides fire suppression and related activities, including, but not limited to, fire prevention, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous material response, or special operation to a population within a fixed and legally recorded geographical area. 

To be eligible for VFDG funding, the applicant agency must be compliant with the following statute:

• Section 320.271 RSMo – Fire Department Registration Pursuant to section 320.271 RSMo, All fire protection districts, fire departments, and all volunteer fire protection associations as defined in section 320.300 shall complete and file with the state fire marshal within sixty days after January 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, a fire department registration form provided by the state fire marshal. 

Selection Criteria
Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, based on application submission date and time. 

Ineligible Applicants

• Agencies that are not fire protection entities as defined in section 320.200(3) RSMo. 
• Agencies that are not volunteer or combination fire department entities 
• Agencies with an annual operating budget greater than $50,000.00 
• Agencies that are not compliant with the above listed statutes ¨ State agencies 

Eligible Cost Items
The Missouri Department of Public Safety’s objective in awarding VFDG funding for fire protection entities is to support fire protection/service activities in the state of Missouri. Eligible costs may support equipment and supplies. Some equipment items related to fire protection/service activities have specific requirements to be eligible for funding. The following individuals have specific requirements. Please note that the items listed below are not the only eligible equipment items. 

• Turnout Gear Agencies seeking funding for turnout gear must have a policy to document cleaning and maintenance processes and procedures for turnout gear. Recipients of funding for turnout gear must supply the Missouri Department of Public Safety with a copy of such policy(s) and procedure(s) at the time of claim submission.
• Interoperability Equipment (Portables/Handhelds, Mobiles, Repeaters, Base Stations, etc.) Investments in emergency communications systems and equipment must meet applicable SAFECOM Guidance. All radios must meet the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Office of the Director, DPS Grants Radio Interoperability Guidelines. The Missouri Interoperability Center (MIC) will review all communications equipment applications to ensure they comply with the Radio Interoperability Guidelines. Quotes are required to be submitted with the application for all interoperability equipment. Applications that do not meet these guidelines will not be eligible for funding.
• NOTE: Agencies seeking any type of radio or radio-related accessory are encouraged to contact the Missouri Interoperability Center by phone at (573) 522- 1714 or by email at moswin.sysadmin@dps.mo.gov to ensure compliance with the Radio Interoperability Guidelines and the appropriate communication devices are purchased for the department’s needs. The Missouri Interoperability Center staff can also provide helpful information regarding the department’s ability to access the MOSWIN and how to articulate such within the grant application. 

Unallowable Cost Items

• Vehicles
• Drones/Drone Accessories
• Construction/Renovations
• Items Affixed to a Facility
• Personnel
• Benefits
• Travel/Training
• Contractual
• Firearms
• Ammunition
• Less Lethal Weapons
• Lobbying
• Fundraising
• Corporate Formation
• State and Local Sales Taxes
• Aircraft
• Military-Type Equipment
• Interoperability equipment that is not compliant with the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN) and Radio Interoperability Guidelines. 

Application and Submission Information

1. Applications will only be accepted through the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) online WebGrants System: https://dpsgrants.dps.mo.gov/index.do
2. Key Dates and Times a. Application Start Date: October 15, 2025 b. Application Submission Deadline: Funding opportunity will be closed when eligible applications have been received to fulfill the amount of funding available.
3. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award. 

As part of the VFDG application, eligible applicants must complete all application forms and provide all required documentation:

1. Contact Information Form
2. DPS Grants State Requirements Form
3. Interoperable Communications Form
4. Project Package – VFDG
5. Budget
6. Named Attachments:
   a. Copy of Most Recent Approved Operating Budget (Required)
   b. Quote or Cost Basis
   c. Turnout Gear Maintenance Policy (Required only if requesting Turnout Gear)
   d. Other Supporting Documentation
   e. Other Supporting Documentation

Contact Information

Grant Specialist

Maria Robinett
(573) 522-2126
Maria.Robinett@dps.mo.gov 

Lead Grant Specialist

Joanne Talleur
(573) 522-2851
Joanne.Talleur@dps.mo.gov 

Grants Supervisor

Chelsey Call
(573) 526-9203
Chelsey.Call@dps.mo.gov 

DPS Grants Program Manager

Joni McCarter
(573) 526-9020
Joni.McCarter@dps.mo.gov

In closing

“Thank You” for each and everything you do each day serving our state and your friends and neighbors. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! If I can be of any assistance, please reach out to me at tim.bean@dfs.dps.mo.gov or 573-751-1742 or 573-645-2069.

Stay Safe, J. Tim Bean