ODNR Approves Grants to Fund Volunteer Fire Assistance

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry has approved federal pass-through grant funding for 55 projects to assist and improve fire departments and fire associations serving communities with populations under 10,000.

“These grants provide valuable resources to assist local fire departments in providing wildland and rural community fire protection,” said David Lytle, state forester and chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “The division is committed to helping local fire departments with limited budgets effectively perform their duties.”

Of the nearly 1,300 fire departments within Ohio, approximately 900 are classified as rural and are primarily staffed by volunteers. The average annual budget for an Ohio rural fire department is $35,000 per year, with many fire departments operating on $10,000 or less annually.

The Federal Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants will be used to upgrade equipment at existing fire departments, and to assist new departments with organizational, training, and equipment costs. Fifty-five fire departments and support organizations in 40 Ohio counties have been recommended to receive a total of $231,696. These matching grant funds will be used for multi-community projects, the conversion of Federal Excess Personal Property into fire apparatus, the purchase of wildland fire slip-in pumper units, the purchase of MARCS radio equipment, and wildland fire personal protective equipment.

Administered by the ODNR Division of Forestry, VFA grants provide up to $10,000 to communities with populations less than 10,000. A local match is required. More than 1,500 rural Ohio fire departments have received assistance since the VFA program was established in 1978

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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(Editor’s Note – Grant table follows below)

For more information, contact:
Greg Smith, ODNR Division of Forestry
614. 265. 6706
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, ODNR Media Relations
614. 265. 6860

County	Applicant	Amount of VFA Grant
Adams	Adams Co. Fire Chiefs Assoc.	$10,000
Allen	LaFayette-Jackson Twp. FD	$1,250
Ashtabula	Geneva-on-the-Lake FD	$3,612
Ashtabula	Plymouth Twp. VFD	$10,000
Athens	Waterloo Twp. VFD	$10,000
Auglaize	St. Johns Fire & Rescue	$3,000
Belmont	Belmont Co. Fire Assoc.	$5,000
Belmont	Shadyside FD	$895
Carroll	Brown Twp. FD	$4,500
Clinton	SRWW Joint Fire Dist.	$4,500
Columbiana	North Georgetown VFD	$4,500
Columbiana	Glenmoor VFD Assoc.	$3,450
Coshocton	Walhonding Valley Fire Dist.	$2,500
Darke	Osgood VFD	$4,000
Fairfield	Amanda Twp. VFD	$4,500
Greene	Silvercreek Twp. Fire & EMS	$4,500
Guernsey	Liberty Community VFD Inc.	$4,500
Guernsey	Cumberland VFD	$2,100
Guernsey	Quaker City VFD	$4,400
Guernsey	Lore City VFD	$4,500
Hamilton	Whitewater Twp. FD	$4,500
Hamilton	Crosby Twp. FD	$4,500
Harrison	Scio VFD Inc.	$4,500
Harrison	Jewett VFD	$4,500
Highland	Paint Creek Joint Fire/EMS	$3,332
Highland	Highland Co. North Joint Fire Dist.	$2,500
Knox	Fredericktown Community FD	$3,750
Lake	Leroy Twp. VFD	$4,500
Lawrence	Perry Twp. VFD	$3,931
Licking	Heath FD	$4,500
Licking	Monroe Twp. VFD	$3,800
Licking	Hanover VFD Inc.	$2,850
Lorain	Sheffield Village FD	$4,500
Lucas	Jerusalem Twp. FD	$4,500
Mahoning	Damascus FD Inc.	$4,500
Marion	1st Consolidated Fire Dist.	$4,500
Marion	Pleasant Twp. FD	$4,500
Medina	Spencer Community Fire Dist.	$4,500
Miami	Casstown Vol. Community FD	$4,500
Morrow	Big Walnut Joint Fire Dist.	$2,100
Muskingum	Wayne Twp./Duncan Falls FD	$4,000
Pike	Waverly FD	$1,850
Pike	Pike Co. Firefighter Assoc.	$9,000
Preble	Eldorado FD	$2,135
Putnam	Ft. Jennings VFD	$4,000
Sandusky	Ballville Twp. VFD	$4,500
Scioto	Rarden FD	$3,625
Scioto	Rubyville VFD	$4,286
Shelby	Botkins FD	$1,150
Tuscarawas	Urichsville FD	$4,330
Vinton	Hamden VFD	$4,500
Washington	Beverly VFD	$4,000
Williams	Edgerton FD	$4,500
Williams	Northwest Twp. Fire & Rescue	$2,850
Wood	Grand Rapids Twp.VFD	$4,500