Southern Stone Fire receives grant to strengthen training, equip firefighters

The tools firefighters train with today can make a difference when they are called to an emergency tomorrow.

Southern Stone County Fire Protection District recently received a $1,000 grant through Missouri American Water’s 2026 Firefighter Grant Program to help purchase equipment that will further the district’s training and firefighting capabilities.

Southern Stone County Fire Protection District recently received a $1,000 Firefighter Grant from Missouri American Water. (Photo courtesy of Southern Stone County Fire Protection District)

Dylan Honea, deputy chief/fire marshal for Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, said the department plans to use the funding to purchase equipment that will help advance firefighters’ capabilities during training and on the fire ground.

“We are very grateful to receive the Missouri American Water grant,” Honea said. “We will utilize the grant to purchase equipment that further progresses our abilities in training and on the fire ground.”

Southern Stone is one of forty-eight fire departments and emergency response organizations across Missouri receiving funding through the program this year. Missouri American Water awarded nearly $50,000 statewide to help provide departments with critical tools and training used to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Missouri American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program provides financial assistance to uniformed professional and volunteer fire departments serving communities within the company’s designated service territories. Southern Stone operates as a combination department, with volunteer firefighters supported by paid, full-time firefighters and command staff.

Eligible grant expenses include personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water-handling equipment and training activities and materials.

The Firefighter Grant Program began in 2016. Since then, approximately 380 grants have been awarded to fire departments and emergency response organizations across Missouri.

For Southern Stone, the grant provides additional resources to help equip firefighters as they continue training and preparing to respond to emergencies throughout the communities they serve.