Donna Owens, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, presented grants to three Fairfield County volunteer fire departments this afternoon in a ceremony at the Richland Township Fire Department.

Today's event was held in conjunction with Governor George V. Voinovich's regional cabinet day in Newark. As a part of the day's activities, Director Owens also donated computers to Briggs High School in Columbus on behalf of the Department of Commerce and toured the WECU Credit Union in Marysville.

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

The grants were 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.

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

According to State Fire Marshal James McNamee, 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, liquor, real estate, securities, auctioneers, unclaimed funds and private investigators, among others.