The Springfield (Mo.) Fire Department has been awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant for nearly $565,000. While the majority of the grant will be used to replace outdated extrication equipment, a portion will be allocated to placing fire sprinklers in the fire stations that currently do not have them.

A fire station typically has a service life of 40 to 50 years. All of the fire stations built since 1996 have fire sprinklers, with the exception of Fire Station No. 6, which was a renovation of an existing building so it was not required by the code.

This grant will allow those stations to be brought up to the modern fire code and reduce the risk to firefighters and the community’s assets.