Donna Owens, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, presented a grant today to the Troy Township Fire Department. Director Owens presented the grant to Chief Clarence Haas during a ceremony at the department's fire station in Luckey.

Today's event was held in conjunction with Governor George V. Voinovich's regional cabinet day in northwest Ohio.

The $2,400 grant will be used to purchase dry hydrants, which will be used to draft water from ponds. The grant is funded through the State Fire Marshal's Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program and the State and Local Government Training and Equipment Grant Program.

"Volunteer fire departments, such as the Troy Township Fire Department, are the backbone of fire protection and citizen safety in many Ohio communities," Director Owens said. "This grant will help the department purchase equipment and supplies that they may otherwise not be able to afford."

In addition to the Troy Township Fire Department, five other Wood County fire departments received grants this year. The other departments are:

• Hoytville Fire Department for $1,712 towards the purchase of a generator and a smoke fan.

• Milton Township Fire District for $4,256 towards the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus.

• Pemberville-Freedom Fire Department for $1,187 towards the purchase of pass alarms.

• Wayne Volunteer Fire Department for $6,000 towards the purchase of firefighter protective clothing.

• Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department for $4,700 towards the purchase of pumps, hose and nozzles.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1993 for the distribution of annual grants to qualifying volunteer fire departments. In 1998, 259 departments received grants worth a total of $1,510,950. This year's funding includes $725,000 from the State Fire Marshal's Volunteer Fire Department Grant Program and $785,950 from the State and Local Government Training and Equipment Grant Program.

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. The department's Internet address is www.com.state.oh.us.