Donna Owens, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, presented grants to three Ross County volunteer fire departments this morning in a ceremony at the Union Township Fire Department. The grants are funded through the State Fire Marshal's Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program.

The grants were presented to:

• Chief Robert Stewart of the Union Township Fire Department for $10,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

• Chief Frank Raymond of the Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department for $3,234 towards the purchase of communications equipment and alarms.

• Chief Brian Mendenhall of the Twin Township Fire Department for $1,400 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

"Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of fire protection and citizen safety in many Ohio communities," Director Owens said. "The grants to the Union Township Fire Department, Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department and Twin Township Fire Department will help them purchase equipment and supplies that they may otherwise not be able to afford."

The grant program was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1993 to assist qualifying volunteer fire departments. Under the 1997 program, a total of $700,000 is being distributed to 125 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.

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The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Fire Marshal's Office trains firefighters, enforces the Ohio Fire Code, investigates the cause and origins of fires and explosions, provides fire prevention programs, and performs other services. Other Commerce divisions enforce regulations regarding industrial compliance, financial institutions, real estate, securities, auctioneers, unclaimed funds and private investigators, among others.