Local Fire Departments Awarded Small County Volunteer Fire Department Grant

COLUMBUS -State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) is pleased to announce that fire departments across Ashland County have been awarded more than $81,000 through the newly created Small County Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD) Grant Program, established in the state budget championed by House Republicans.

Funding will be used by small, volunteer fire departments to purchase essential equipment, upgrade facilities, and enhance access to firefighting training. The breakdown per department is as follows:

• Mifflin Community Volunteer Fire Department - $ 50,000
• Ruggles-Troy Volunteer Fire Department - $ 13,102
• Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department - $ 18,307
  

"Our volunteer fire departments play an essential role in keeping our communities safe," said Miller. "These grants will help provide critical equipment and training so departments in Ashland County can continue responding quickly and effectively when our residents need them most."

Overall, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal awarded a total of $7,997,960 to 190 departments across 49 Ohio counties.

According to the 2023 Governor's Volunteer Fire Service Task Force report, approximately 70% of Ohio's nearly 1,200 fire departments rely on volunteers, but there continues to be a steady decrease in volunteer firefighters. From 2018 to 2021, there was a 6.5% decrease in volunteer firefighters, but a 9% increase in calls from 2018 to 2020.