COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry recently approved grant funding for 57 projects totaling $394,274 for fire departments in rural areas of Ohio through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant program.

“We are pleased to be able to provide funding to local volunteer fire departments for the acquisition of upgraded firefighting equipment,” said Dan Balser, Chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “In addition to the training we provide, this equipment will increase the efficiency of our frontline partners in wildfire prevention and suppression.”

VFA Grant projects are focused on supporting rural fire departments and helping them continue to deliver safety services to their communities. VFA grants are open to fire departments that serve communities with less than 10,000 people within the ODNR Forestry wildfire protection area.

The grant funds may be used by fire departments to purchase UTVs, slip-in wildfire pump units, wildfire and structure fire PPE, MARCS radios, tools, and other items to support fire department operations and development. VFA grants may fund up to 50% of the total project cost, not to exceed $10,000 per grant.

Many rural fire departments in Ohio have tight budgets, and most of their limited resources must be focused on absolute essentials for keeping emergency services up and running. ODNR Forestry’s VFA grant program helps supplement fire department budgets and facilitates important purchases like firefighter personal protective equipment and basic fire suppression equipment.

VFA grant funding is provided to ODNR Forestry from the U.S. Forest Service.

A list of fire departments receiving VFA grants can be found here.

The Ontario (Canada) Fire District recently held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Station 3, located at 6714 Lakeside Rd.

See video of the occasion here.

It’s Ontario’s third fire station serving the northwest side of town after Union Hill Fire Department closed in 2019. Station 3 has two bays, a lounge, and a kitchen, according to Spectrum Local News.

The company has 70 volunteers.

This is a big deal for this small town. The town of Ontario opened a third fire station to serve the NW side of town after Union Hill FD closed in 2019. Station #3 is on Lakeside Rd. It has two bays, lounge and kitchen. Ontario Fire Company has 70 volunteers. @SPECNews1ROC pic.twitter.com/pdF06q6TdS

— Wendy Mills (@WendyMillsTV) March 2, 2022

The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s Special Events Division takes to the streets for Mardi Gras by positioning ambulances, golf cart transports and bicycles around the city as it swarms with Mardi Gras revelers.

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The Parma Heights Fire Department discovered late last year that its Pearl Road station was in dire need of emergency construction work, reports cleveland.com.

A construction company’s inspection revealed that the facility’s structural integrity was in grave danger of a “catastrophic failure,” the report says.

Money from the city’s capital fund was used for the work, and the winning bid for the estimated $80,900 masonry project was awarded to Grunwell-Cashero, according to the report. The work, which began a few weeks ago, involves replacing lintel beams and brick, as well as a door frame at the 1947-built station.

Officials say there could be more repairs needed down the road.