TOPEKA — Seventy volunteer and part-time fire departments across the state received funds this year through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Program administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The grant awards will be used by fire departments for the purchase of safety gear, washer/extractor machines for cleaning bunker gear, start-up of Junior Firefighter programs and physical costs for firefighters with no insurance or ability to be reimbursed by their department.

Area departments include the following:

• Belleville Fire Dept. $3,500
• Clyde Fire Dept. $2,154.42
• Marion County Fire District #6 $6,749
• Ottawa County Rural Fire District #4 $3,500
• Solomon Fire Dept. $4,868
• Tipton Rural Fire Dept. $3,500

This program was made possible with the 2018 State of Kansas budget passed by the state Legislature. Last year, 36 departments were awarded grant funds with the previous grant budget of $200,000. The OSFM was able to award grant funds to nearly twice as many departments this year, with the funding being doubled to $400,000.

Volunteer and part-time fire departments face recruitment and retention challenges because they do not have the funding to provide safety equipment. Without new equipment provided by the recruiting fire department, potential volunteers are faced with not only donating their time but also providing their own safety gear, sharing gear with others, or doing without. There is also a proven increase in cancer diagnoses for firefighters, which can be caused by prolonged exposure to carcinogens, particulates, and biohazards. The proper gear, regular cleaning of that gear and equipment, along with preventative healthcare is crucial for a firefighter’s health and well-being.

This year, over $1.3 million in requests from 79 departments were submitted. Fire departments received approximately $310,000 to be used for safety gear and $90,000 for 26 washer/extractor machines. Due to the high number of requests, OSFM will be requesting the 2019 Legislature continue funding this important grant.

“We’ve seen, by the sheer number of requests for this funding, the need is high among our volunteer and part-time fire departments,” Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, said. “It is simply unacceptable to ask Kansans, not only to volunteer their time as first responders in smaller communities but to also sacrifice their safety by not giving them the tools they need to protect and serve their communities as volunteer firefighters. This grant allows us to assist in providing some of the funds needed to provide safety equipment the departments otherwise could not afford.”

Following is the list of grant recipients from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

2018 Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Awards
Anderson County Rural Fire Dept. $13,120.25
Andover Fire-Rescue $12,380
Attica Dist.#1 Vol. Fire Dept. $3,500
Augusta Dept. of Public Safety $3,500
Baxter Springs Fire Dept. $8,352
Belleville Fire Dept. $3,500
Bentley Vol. Fire Dept. $7,784.40
Osage County Fire District #6 $6,128.30
Butler County Fire District #9 $9,290
C & R Fire District #1 $5,188.48
Caney Fire Dept. $7,220
City of Tonganoxie Fire Dept. $6,588
Clyde Fire Dept. $2,154.42
Colby Fire Dept. $8,199.87
Comanche County Fire Dept. $3,500
Cowley County Fire District #3 $5,800
Edna Volunteer Fire Dept. $6,846
Ellinwood Fire Dept. $1,740
Ellis County Fire Dept. $1,659.60
Eudora Fire & EMS Dept. $2,854.95
Eureka Volunteer Fire Dept. $9,506
Fire District #1 of Leavenworth County $3,500
Florence Fire Dept. $4,770
Galena Volunteer Fire Dept. $7,797
Garnett Fire Dept. $7,812
Geary County Rural Fire Dept. $5,523
Greeley County Fire Dept. $3,500
Greenwood County Rural Fire District #1 $5,508
Grinnell Rural Fire Dept. $3,500
Halstead Fire/EMS $5,390.94
Harper Fire Dept. $3,500
Hoisington Vol. Fire Dept. $3,500
Netawaka Rural Fire District #6 $4,011.45
Kentucky Township Fire Department $7,070.10
Jefferson County Fire District #3 $3,925
Jefferson County Fire District #5 $9,000
Kinsley Fire Dept. $3,591.12
Little River Fire Dept. $5,283.95
Mankato Volunteer Fire Dept. $6,209.50
Marion County Fire District #6 $6,749
Marshall County Rural Fire #7 $2,500
Marysville Fire Dept. $3,500
Jackson Co. Rural Fire District #1 Mayetta $3,500
McLouth Fire Dept. $3,500
Mulvane Fire & Rescue $5,418
Nemaha County Rural Fire District #2 $3,880.18
Centralia Fire Department $10,541
Norton Fire District #12 $3,500
Olpe Fire District #1 $5,978.04
Osage Township Fire Dept. (Crawford County) $9,800
Osage Township Fire Dept. (Labette County) $7,992
Osborne County Rural Fire District #2 $8,127
Ottawa County Rural Fire District #4 $3,500
Palmyra Fire District #2 $5,693.34
Pottawatomie County Fire District #5 $6,589.66
Pratt City Fire Dept. $9,049.04
Riley County Fire District #1 $7,910.90
Russell City Fire Dept. $7,425
Scandia Rural Fire District #10 $3,480
Scott Township Fire Dept. $5,256
Soldier Township Fire Dept. $6,746.85
Solomon Fire Dept. $4,868
Stafford County Rural Fire Dept. #1 $3,500
Sumner County Fire District #8 $4,785
Syracuse Fire Dept. $3,500
Tipton Rural Fire Dept. $3,500
Tonganoxie Township Rural Fire Dept. $8,883.08
Ness Co. Fire District #3 $7,597
Wabaunsee County Fire District #7 $7,497
Wellsville Fire District $2,720