Donna Owens, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, will present grants to three Fairfield County volunteer fire departments on Thursday, August 21 at 12:30 p.m. at the Richland Township Fire Department, 3150 Market Street, Rushville.

Thursday's event is being held in conjunction with Governor George V. Voinovich's regional cabinet day in Newark.

The grants are funded through the State Fire Marshal's Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program.

The grants will be presented to:

• Chief Lowell Fisher of the Richland Township Fire Department for $2,600 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

• Chief Ronald Thaxton of the Amanda Township Fire Department for $10,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

• Chief Dean Dennis of the Berne Township Fire Department for $10,000 towards the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus.

The grant program assists fire departments in purchasing equipment and supplies that they may otherwise not be able to afford. 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, liquor, real estate, securities, auctioneers, unclaimed funds and private investigators, among others.