The forestry division is responsible for management and protection of the state's forest resources. Eighty-four percent of the commercial land is owned by about 200,000 owners. Missouri leads the nation in the production of charcoal, cedar novelties, gunstocks, walnut bowls and walnut nutmeats. Division personnel and volunteer rural fire departments annually suppress approximately 4,000 wildfires which burn 60,000 acres of forest and grassland. Although fire control efforts are concentrated in the more heavily forested counties in southern Missouri, protection is provided state-wide.
Efforts continue to improve rural fire departments statewide and increase fire control efficiency.
Assistance is provided to rural fire districts and volunteer fire departments. Technical assistance, training and federal excess equipment are available at no cost to cooperating fire organizations. Federal legislation provides some funding to qualifying fire organizations on a matching basis. A rural forest fire equipment center is located in Lebanon. The center acquires, inventories and distributes federal excess property to rural fire departments.