Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Awarded to 57 FDs

The Division of Forestry recently approved grant funding for 57 projects totaling $394,274 for Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) projects. This VFA grant offering generated 141 applications requesting a total of $921,580. VFA Grants are focused on equipping and supporting fire departments that serve rural communities in Ohio. Items that fire departments will procure through these grants include UTVs, slip-in units for brush trucks, wildland PPE, MARCS communications devices, tools, and other items that support the mission of the Ohio fire service.

The VFA grant is an annual opportunity offered by ODNR Forestry. The next application period will be open mid-November 2022 through mid-January 2023. FDs that were not offered funding this grant cycle are encouraged to apply for future offerings. The Ohio Division of Forestry is a proud partner of Ohio’s rural fire departments and supports their mission to build safer communities and better prepared first responders.

Online Wildfire Reports

Please remember to submit online wildfire reports for all your FD’s wildfire suppression responses (primary response and mutual aid). This data is very important to the Division of Forestry and to your FD. Your wildfire response data is used in national funding allocation formulas, so data from your FD directly assists in bringing more support dollars to Ohio fire departments. It’s also a criterion used in scoring grant applications (like VFA) that Forestry receives from your FD. Entering a report just takes a minute – it’s quick and easy.

Please note that the Ohio Division of Forestry system is not linked with NFIRS. Wildfire reports must be entered directly into the Forestry system for us to receive them. If you have any questions regarding wildfire reporting, please notify your Division of Forestry contact. 

Wildfire PPE

Ohio firefighters are likely very familiar with all PPE requirements for structural firefighting. Take a moment to get familiar with the wildland firefighting PPE requirements for firefighters as outlined in Ohio Administrative Code. NFPA 1977 is the standard for wildland firefighting PPE. Stay safe, wear the PPE! Apply for ODNR Forestry VFA grant funding to help with the purchase.

Grants
Aaron Kloss, 614-265-6896
aaron.kloss@dnr.ohio.gov

FEPP / FFP Equipment
Tom Shuman, 740-672-2677
thomas.shuman@dnr.ohio.gov

Training
Lewis Bailey, 614-752-7177
lewis.bailey@dnr.ohio.gov

Southern FD Outreach
Tyler Gallagher, 740-672-2678
tyler.gallagher@dnr.ohio.gov

Northern FD Outreach
Ryan Zeisler, 740-381-1882
ryan.zeisler@dnr.ohio.gov

Copyright (C) 2022
ODNR Division of Forestry
All rights reserved.

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