06-04-2008, 11:10 AM
COLUMBUS, OH - The Ridgeway Fire Department of Hardin County will receive a 1986 Chevrolet four-wheel drive pick-up truck through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.
<br>The division will provide the truck, which has an original value of $15,751, at no charge to the fire department through the U.S. Department of Defense Fire Fighter Property (FFP) Program.<br>
<br>"The FFP program helps local fire officials obtain important fire-fighting equipment that their limited budgets might not otherwise permit," said David Lytle, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. "The budget for a typical Ohio rural volunteer fire department is $35,000 per year, with some fire departments operating on $10,000 or less."<br>
<br>Items obtained through the federal program are provided to local fire departments under an agreement requiring equipment to be placed into service within six months. Once the Division of Forestry certifies the equipment has been placed into active service, the local fire department assumes complete ownership of the equipment.<br>
<br>Equipment available to fire departments through this program include fire engines, tanker trucks, pick-up trucks, vans, portable generators and pumps, compressors, hoses, nozzles, protective clothing and other safety equipment.<br>
<br>The Division of Forestry currently has cooperative wildfire suppression agreements with 325 fire departments located within the division's fire protection area, which includes eastern and southeastern Ohio, as well as the Maumee State Forest area of northwestern Ohio. Fire departments interested in the program should contact Rick Maier at 740-774-1596, ext. 7 for information.
<br>The division will provide the truck, which has an original value of $15,751, at no charge to the fire department through the U.S. Department of Defense Fire Fighter Property (FFP) Program.<br>
<br>"The FFP program helps local fire officials obtain important fire-fighting equipment that their limited budgets might not otherwise permit," said David Lytle, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. "The budget for a typical Ohio rural volunteer fire department is $35,000 per year, with some fire departments operating on $10,000 or less."<br>
<br>Items obtained through the federal program are provided to local fire departments under an agreement requiring equipment to be placed into service within six months. Once the Division of Forestry certifies the equipment has been placed into active service, the local fire department assumes complete ownership of the equipment.<br>
<br>Equipment available to fire departments through this program include fire engines, tanker trucks, pick-up trucks, vans, portable generators and pumps, compressors, hoses, nozzles, protective clothing and other safety equipment.<br>
<br>The Division of Forestry currently has cooperative wildfire suppression agreements with 325 fire departments located within the division's fire protection area, which includes eastern and southeastern Ohio, as well as the Maumee State Forest area of northwestern Ohio. Fire departments interested in the program should contact Rick Maier at 740-774-1596, ext. 7 for information.