Donated Equipment
Following historic, deadly flash flooding on April 29, 2017, the Antonia Fire Protection District, in Jefferson County, donated 16 sets of firefighting gear to the DFS Donated Equipment Program. DFS coordinated transfer of the gear to the Thomasville Fire Department, in Oregon County, which lost most of its firefighting equipment and gear during the flooding.
Missouri’s Fire Equipment Donation Program was established by statute in 1990 (L. 1990 H.B. 1395 & 1448 § 3) and was last amended in 2001 (A.L. 2001 S.B. 197). The purpose of this program is to encourage and facilitate the donation of firefighting equipment and clothing by Missouri fire departments to other Missouri fire departments through the provision of civil immunity when donating safe, usable equipment and vehicles.
Many of Missouri’s fire departments purchase and replace equipment and vehicles on a regular basis, resulting in “surplus” equipment. This “surplus” equipment often still has many years of service life left and may be newer and/or in better condition that equipment currently in service with other fire departments across our state due to their limited budgets. In some cases, firefighting equipment that is currently is service with these underfunded agencies can only be replaced because replacement parts are no longer available, or it is unable to be properly repaired for continued safe operation.
The Fire Equipment Donation Program, as set forth in RSMO 320.091, provides civil immunity to any “…fire protection district, volunteer fire protection association, or any fire department of any political subdivision which donates equipment used to suppress fire or fire protection clothing to another department, association or district if…” certain conditions are met.
Requirements for the Donation of Used Fire Protection Equipment
- Such equipment is approved by the state fire marshal or the state fire marshal's designee;
- Motor vehicles so donated must pass a safety inspection by the Missouri state highway patrol;
- The receiving agency demonstrates to the state fire marshal's office that the equipment received works properly; and
- The donor agency informs the receiving agency in writing of any defects in the equipment about which it knows.
Donation of Used Firefighting Equipment: Methods and Procedures
There are three (3) acceptable methods for donor agencies to distribute any available used fire protection equipment to a qualifying recipient agency. Please review the sections below for guidance regarding each of the accepted methods.
Direct Donation
The donor agency and the recipient agency (or agencies) coordinate with each other and complete all steps of the donation process in compliance with all program requirements. The donor and recipient agencies then notify the Division of Fire Safety of the donation action through notice and submission of the completed copies of all required forms and documentation for review and final approval by the State Fire Marshal or their designee.
- Donor agency completes the Donation of Used Fire Equipment form.
- The form is a “fillable” PDF form, which can be completed on a computer and then printed. It may also be printed and completed manually.
- All applicable fields of the form must be completed, all required information must be included, and the form must contain the signature and printed name of an authorized representative from each agency.
- A copy of the completed Donation of Used Equipment form/s, including any required attachments, is submitted to the Division of Fire Safety for review and approval.
- Submit all completed forms and accompanying required documentation to mutualaid@dfs.dps.mo.gov.
- Upon approval of the donation transaction by the State Fire Marshal or their designee, a signed copy of the form/s will be provided to both the donor and recipient agencies for their records.
Notice of Availability - Submitted to the Division of Fire Safety
The donor agency contacts the Division of Fire Safety and provides general information about the equipment which is available for donation. The Division of Fire Safety publishes this information on their website and periodically sends out notifications that such equipment is available. Interested recipient agencies contact the donor agency directly and work out arrangements for pickup and/or delivery of the equipment. The completed forms and required documentation are then provided by the donor and recipient agencies to the Division of Fire Safety for review and final approval.
- Donor agency notifies the Division of Fire Safety of the availability of used fire equipment for donation for publication on the Division’s website. The notification of availability must include the following information:
- A listing of the equipment available for donation, including type and quantity.
- A general description of the condition of the available equipment, including any known defects.
- Representative photos of the listed equipment.
- Authorized Agency Point of Contact information including:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Location of the available equipment
- Submit all of the information listed above to mutualaid@dfs.dps.mo.gov.
- Once a recipient agency has been identified, the donor agency completes the Donation of Used Fire Equipment form.
- The form is a “fillable” PDF form, which can be completed on a computer and then printed. It may also be printed and completed manually.
- All applicable fields of the form must be completed, all required information must be included, and the form must contain the signature and printed name of an authorized representative from each agency.
- A copy of the completed Donation of Used Equipment form/s, including any required attachments, is provided to the Division of Fire Safety for review and approval.
- Upon approval of the donation transaction by the State Fire Marshal or their designee, a signed copy of the form/s will be provided to both the donor and recipient agencies for their records.
Acquisition and Distribution by the Division of Fire Safety
In select cases, the Division of Fire Safety may elect to take possession of and/or store equipment that is available for donation until a recipient agency can be found and is able to take possession of the equipment. This option is a “last-resort” and will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the State Fire Marshal or their designee.
- Donor agency notifies the Division of Fire Safety of the availability of used fire equipment for donation, who then arranges to take possession of the equipment. The Division of Fire Safety then publishes a notice of the availability of this equipment on the Division’s website.
- Once a recipient agency has been identified, the donor agency or the Division of Fire Safety completes the Donation of Used Fire Equipment form.
- The form is a “fillable” PDF form, which can be completed on a computer and then printed. It may also be printed and completed manually.
- All applicable fields of the form must be completed, all required information must be included, and the form must contain the signature and printed name of an authorized representative from each agency.
- A copy of the completed Donation of Used Equipment form/s, including any required attachments, is provided to the Division of Fire Safety for review and approval.
- Upon approval of the donation transaction by the State Fire Marshal or their designee, a signed copy of the form/s will be provided to both the donor and recipient agencies for their records.
Certain information is required to be provided on the Donation of Used Fire Equipment at the time of submission to the Division of Fire Safety for review and approval. Agencies which submit an incomplete or unsigned form will be contacted by the Division of Fire Safety and requested to resubmit a completed form. Please review the following sections for details regarding required information for vehicle and equipment donations.
Vehicle and Equipment Donations: Required Information
The information listed below is required to be provided on the Donation of Used Fire Equipment form for each item of used fire equipment that is offered for donation. Forms which do not contain the required information will are subject to rejection, and the donation of that equipment may not be covered by the program. Please contact the Division of Fire Safety is you have any questions or need any assistance or guidance when completing the forms.
Vehicles
- Type: The type of vehicle must be provided.
- Engine, Tanker, Brush Truck etc.
- VIN: The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) must be provided on the form.
- Safety Inspection: A Safety Inspection must be performed on the vehicle by an authorized inspector at an authorized Motor Vehicle Inspection location in Missouri. The date of the inspection must be provided on the form AND a copy of the completed inspection form must be submitted with the Donation of Used Equipment Form.
- Vehicles which cannot pass a safety inspection are not eligible for donation under this program.
- Defects: Any known defects must be disclosed on the form.
Equipment
- Type: The type of equipment must be provided.
- Rake, axe, nozzle, bunker coat, helmet, hose, etc.
- Description: A brief description of the equipment must be provided.
- Size, length, color, etc.
- Condition (new/used).
- If the item has a serial number, it must be provided. If the serial number is illegible or missing, please make a note that condition.
- For items without a serial number, such as hand tools, please provide the quantity of items available.
- Defects: Any known defects with listed item must be provided.
Thank you for your consideration of donating used fire equipment to other Missouri fire departments! If you have any questions about this program or need any assistance regarding a donation of used fire equipment, please reach out to the Division of Fire Safety via the contact information provided on this page.