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Six Area Fire Departments Receive Grants from State Fire Marshal

 

State Fire Marshal Robert R. Rielage presented fire grants to six Ross County volunteer fire departments in a ceremony held earlier today at the Huntington Township Fire Department. The grants are part of $1.78 million in grants being awarded to small and volunteer departments by the State Fire Marshal for training and equipment.

"The majority of fire departments in Ohio are made up of committed volunteers who welcome the opportunity to serve their communities," said Rielage. "These grants allow their spirit of volunteerism to be coupled with the proper equipment and training in order to perform their firefighting duties."

The grants were presented to:

• Treasurer Victor Ewry of the Bainbridge Fire Department, who received $7,190 towards the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus and equipment.
• Chief Ed Stocklin of the Colerain Township Fire Department, who received $8,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.
• Assistant Chief Bob Wayland of the Concord Township Fire Department, who received $10,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.
• Chief Jan Siders of the Huntington Township Fire Department, who received $8,000 towards the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Chief Charles Kempton of the Liberty Township Fire Department, who received $8,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.
• Chief Jamie Stewart of the Union Township Fire Department, who received $8,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

In 2000, the State Fire Marshal awarded almost $1.8 million in grants to help small and volunteer fire departments across the state. The State and Local Government Commission allocated $1 million to the State Fire Marshal for the Training and Equipment Grants. $393,731 was used to reimburse 343 fire departments for the actual cost of the mandated basic fire training classes, including the cost of training manuals and student workbooks, up to $600 for certain courses. These grants were available to departments with a permanent population of 25,000 or less. The remaining $607,626 was used under the Volunteer Fire Department Grants program.

The State Fire Marshal’s Volunteer Fire Department Grants program was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1993 to assist qualifying volunteer fire departments. The grants are awarded using a grading schedule that attempts to first fund departments with the fewest resources to meet their fire protection needs and responsibilities. The criteria include: population and size of the fire district, fire department’s total budget, number of fire runs, and proposed use of the grant. Most grants are used for firefighter protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. In 2000, the State Fire Marshal awarded 199 Volunteer Fire Department grants totaling $1,388,236. This included $607,626 from the Training and Equipment Grants program and $780,610 given to the State Fire Marshal by the Ohio General Assembly. Equipment grants are for $10,000 or less.

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