FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 9, 2026

COLUMBUS –State Representative Angie King (R-Celina) is pleased to announce that fire departments across Auglaize, Darke, and Mercer Counties have been awarded more than $503,723 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 Knoxville-Washington Twp. Fire –$50,000
  • Minster-Jackson Township Fire Department – $45,484
  • Ansonia Volunteer Fire Department – $48,070
  • Gettysburg Rural Fire Department – $47,252.04
  • New Madison Community Fire Company – $21,500
  • North Star Community Fire Company – $49,991
  • Osgood Community Volunteer Fire Department – $26,985.95
  • Union City Fire & Rescue – $49,990
  • Chickasaw Community Mutual Fire Company – $50,000
  • Coldwater Fire Department – $33,650
  • Mendon Union Fire Department – $42,671
  • Rockford Community Fire Department – $38,130

 

“Volunteer fire departments play a vital role in keeping our communities safe,” said King. “For small volunteer departments, every dollar matters. I was proud to support the rural public safety investment included in House Bill 96 to strengthen these departments and the important work they do.”

 

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.

-30-

For more information contact Rep. King’s office atRep84@ohiohouse.gov.