Local Fire Departments Awarded Small County Volunteer Fire Department Grant

COLUMBUS -State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) is pleased to announce that fire departments across Adams and Brown Counties have been awarded more than $196,124 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:

• Manchester Fire Department - $49,992.60
• Peebles Fire Department - $50,000.00
• Winchester Community Fire District - $49,041.98
• Russellville Fire and EMS - 47,090.04
  

"Our volunteer firefighters play a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of our communities, and they deserve all the support we can provide," said Pizzulli.

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.