The bill would prohibit employers from reprimanding or firing their employees that miss work due to volunteer firefighting.

The bill's sponsor Mark Bruns told the House committee that volunteer firefighters would not be held responsible for job hours missed while responding to emergency calls.

Intro: Missourians would be blocked from becoming their own fire district under a proposal presented to a state House committee Wednesday:

Missouri state Fire Marshall Randy Cole told the House General Laws Committee that the proposal would stop a Missouri man's recent attempt to create his own, private fire department.

Cole said the effort to be a private fire department occurred in southern Missouri.

The bill would provide each public fire department with a valid ID number, helping to clearly identify public departments and streamline the grant process.

The committee took no immediate action on the measure.

From the state capitol, I'm Kevin Gehl.