Local fire departments receive forestry grants in eastern Ohio

More than $593,000 in ODNR Volunteer Fire Assistance grants will support 95 rural projects in Ohio, helping volunteer departments obtain protective gear, communication devices and other equipment.

State officials say more than $593,000 in grants from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry will support 95 projects in rural communities. The funding was distributed through the ODNR Volunteer Fire Assistance program. It is intended to help volunteer fire departments improve wildfire response, buy protective equipment and upgrade operational tools. The program is focused on departments that are at least 80 percent volunteer and serve communities with populations under 10,000 within Ohio's wildfire protection area. Grant details: - More than $593,000 was awarded to support 95 projects through the ODNR Volunteer Fire Assistance program. - Grants may cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost, with a maximum award of $10,000; eligible purchases include all-terrain vehicles, water tanks and pump units, protective equipment, radios and other operational tools. - Funding for the program comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and includes allocations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. - Reported local awards include: Carrollton Village Fire Department ($10,000), Sunset Heights Volunteer Department in Bridgeport ($10,000), Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department ($6,975) and Richmond Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co. ($6,196), among others. - The program is available to departments composed of at least 80 percent volunteers serving communities under 10,000 residents within the state's wildfire protection area. Summary: Officials say the grants will bolster wildfire training and equipment for volunteer departments and help rural units obtain protective gear and operational tools. The awards draw on federal forest service funding and IIJA allocations and are structured to cover portions of project costs up to stated limits. Undetermined at this time.