01/13/2026
1/12/2026
2026 Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant Awarded To Sawyer Rural Fire Department, 28 Other Volunteer Fire Departments
Sawyer Rural Fire Department Fire Department in Sawyer, KS was one of 29 departments in Kansas that were awarded equipment through the Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant (KVFG) Program administered by the Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM). Sawyer Rural Fire Department was awarded four bunker gear sets to be used for protecting firefighters while performing fire suppression activities.
The KSFM awarded much-needed Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and/or washer/extractor machines to 29 volunteer fire departments in Kansas through the (KVFG) program, totaling $500,000. The KSFM made this grant possible through its budget, passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Laura Kelly.
This year, over 479 sets of PPE bunker gear, 251 sets of PPE wildland gear, and 33 extractors totaling over $2.6 million were requested by 102 volunteer fire departments in Kansas. Departments received close to $500,000 in new PPE gear.
“Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of public safety in communities across Kansas,” Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal, said. “Ensuring they have modern, reliable gear isn’t just an investment in our volunteer firefighters, it’s an investment in the lives they protect.”
Volunteer fire departments face equipment challenges because they do not have the funding to provide adequate 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.
For more information on the Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant Program, please visit:
https://firemarshal.ks.gov/306/Kansas-Volunteer-Firefighter-Grant
Cameron Reece
Asst. Chief
Kansas Volunteer Firefighter Grant