Local fire depts. receive state grant funding

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana County) has announced the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry has made awards for its Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant program, which focuses on providing support to rural fire departments.

 The program aims to assist fire departments in acquiring wildland fire equipment, such as UTVs, ATVs, wildfire slip-in units, PPE, MARCS communication devices, and other items that support rural fire department development.

The local fire departments and their allocations through the program within the 79th House District include:

Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department – $10,000

Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department – $9,780

Fire departments located within the ODNR Forestry Wildfire Protection Areas are eligible to apply for VFA grants of up to $10,000 each. These grants are designed to help fire departments acquire the necessary equipment to prevent and fight wildfires in rural areas. The grants can be used to purchase equipment and supplies that improve fire department readiness, increase firefighter safety, and enhance the effectiveness of firefighting operations.