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Spirit of ‘76 VFD receives $10K grant for equipment

BELLAIRE — The Spirit of ’76 Volunteer Fire Department, located on Key-Bellaire Road in Bellaire, has received a $10,000 grant to help purchase equipment for firefighting in rural areas.

The grant has allowed the department to acquire utility task vehicles and “slip-in” units used to transport water and bring tools into areas not easily accessible by normal firefighting vehicles and equipment.

The grant is awarded through the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and administered by Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program was made possible through the federal Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, which revised the authority of the United States Forest Service for providing financial and technical assistance to states and private landowners on a variety of forestry issues, including fire protection.

“The fact that the Spirit of ’76 was selected to receive this grant is a testament to the selflessness, dedication, and excellence of this volunteer fire department,” said Ohio Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire. “These funds will be put to good use, helping to upgrade equipment and make it easier for our local heroes to continue to protect people in our community.”

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants provide federal matching funds up to $10,000 to communities with populations less than 10,000. The grants are 50/50 matching reimbursement grants, which means the fire department must purchase the equipment prior to receiving reimbursement for 50 percent of the total project amount, and only purchases made after grants are awarded are eligible for reimbursement.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, for projects that cover multiple communities, the 10,000 population limit may be exceeded and still qualify if none of the participating communities individually exceeds the limit. Priority is given to departments that are newly organizing, multi-community projects, purchase of “wildland slip in pump units for trucks and all terrain and utility vehicles,” to name a few.

Since the program’s inception, more than 1,300 rural Ohio fire departments have received assistance.

“I am pleased to hear that several of our local fire departments will benefit from the Volunteer Fire Association Grants,” said Ohio Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction. “These funds are necessary to ensure that high-quality service is maintained for the local communities.”

Hoagland added the Chester Volunteer Fire Department in Meigs County also was awarded $7,000 from the grant program.

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