Local Fire Departments Awarded Small County Volunteer Fire Department Grant

COLUMBUS –State Representative Johnathan Newman (R-Troy) is pleased to announce that fire departments in Southern Darke County have been awarded $68,752.04 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:

• New Madison Community Fire - $21,500.00
• Gettysburg Rural Fire - $47,252.04
   

“Ensuring our dedicated volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to protect our communities is essential. So, I am proud to announce that Darke Couty has secured $243,788.99 through the SCVFD Grant program, including $68,752.04 for the two outstanding departments in District 80,” said Newman. 

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.