BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -

A longstanding partnership between Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services, the U.S. Forest Service, and state agencies is supplying Ohio's rural volunteer fire departments with excess military equipment, helping them stretch tight budgets and improve their ability to respond to wildfires.

Ohio's Department of Natural Resources manages its state's effort, with 44 counties and roughly 400 volunteer fire departments participating. Program Coordinator Adam Grooms said those departments are trained on how to request equipment through an online portal.

"We've had very good success with the program," Grooms said, noting state records trace Ohio's participation back to the 1950s. He said he personally has overseen the program for about a year, and during that time, the state has received about $2 million worth of equipment.

Items vary widely, from individual first aid kits for firefighters to trailers, pickups and heavy construction machinery used by departments to maintain access roads and fire lanes across more than 200,000 acres of state forest.

Trucks remain the most sought-after item, Grooms said. When volunteer departments receive one, they typically convert the vehicle into a wildland brush truck carrying about 250 gallons of water with a pump and hose reel. Departments handle their own conversions, though they can apply for state volunteer fire assistance grants to offset the cost.

Grooms said the demand for surplus property remains intense across Ohio. Among the departments benefiting from the program is the Aid Volunteer Fire Department, led by Chief Matt Jenkins, an Army veteran and former combat engineer.

Jenkins said he occasionally uses his military background to help Grooms evaluate equipment he is considering requesting from DLA for release to departments.

Recently, Aid Township picked up a 12-foot enclosed trailer it will convert into a fire prevention unit for community outreach. The trailer will hold a children's obstacle course and educational materials, and the department is developing an adult version to give residents a firsthand look at firefighter tasks. Jenkins expects surrounding departments will borrow the trailer for their own events once it is ready.

Military surplus property from DLA also recently provided a large diesel generator that allows Jenkins' station to function as a heating and cooling shelter during power outages.

Jenkins said the surplus program supports more than just emergency response. It boosts recruitment by helping grow the department's junior firefighter program, which he considers the community's main pipeline for new members.

"These programs really help us out a bunch," he said.