Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant Awarded to 24 Volunteer Fire Departments

TOPEKA – The Kansas State Fire Marshal awarded 101 complete sets of PPE bunker gear, totaling just over $400,000, to 24 volunteer fire departments through the Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant (KVFG). Each bunker gear set includes a matching coat and pair of pants, a structural fire helmet, a hood, gloves, and leather structural boots. The Kansas State Fire Marshal was able to make the grant possible through its budget, which was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Laura Kelly. 

This year, 675 sets of PPE bunker gear, valued at over $2.6 million, were requested by 96 volunteer fire departments in Kansas. Fire departments continue to face firefighter recruitment and retention issues because they lack funding to provide adequate safety equipment that meets National Fire Protection Association standards. This is particularly true in small, rural volunteer firefighter departments. Volunteer firefighters often have to provide their own safety gear, use gear that is outdated or go without gear altogether. The KVFG addresses gear inadequacies and prioritizes the departments in greatest need.

“Speaking with volunteer fire departments across the state this year, the common theme was the lack of quality gear. Often times gear is used, handed down, expired, or mixed gear put together and shared by multiple volunteers,” Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal said. “Our goal this year was to focus on the volunteer fire departments that were in need the most of replacing old, outdated and missing gear.”

The Kansas State Fire Marshal, along with representatives from the Kansas State Fire Fighters Association and the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs, reviewed the grant applications and worked together to award the grants. 

 Fiscal Year 2025 Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant Award Recipients  

Allen County Rural Volunteer Fire Department                Marion County Fire District #2

Belleville Fire Department                                                Moline Fire Department

Cawker City Fire Department                                           Morris County Fire District #13

Cheney Volunteer Fire Department                                  Mt. Pleasant Rural Fire Department #4

Clifton Fire Department                                                    Nashville Fire Department

Delphos Rural & City Fire Department                             Powhattan Fire Department 

Ellinwood Fire Department                                               Randall Rural Fire Department

Galesburg Volunteer Fire Department                              Sawyer Rural Fire District

Hanover Rural Fire District #10                                         South Haven Fire Department

Jackson County Rural Fire District #7                               Sumner County Fire District #8

Jewell City & Rural Fire Department                                 Washington County Fire District #6

Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department                                 Washington County Rural Fire District #8