Darke County Fire Departments Receive MARCS Grant

Darke County Fire Departments have been awarded the 2017 MARCS (Multi Agency Radio Communications Systems) grant from the State Fire Marshal.

These funds will be used to purchase MARCS radio equipment and the associated fees for use of the State-Wide emergency communications system.

In total over $600,000 has been awarded to the following Fire Departments serving Darke County.

Ansonia Fire Department $30,645.52
Arcanum Fire Department $37,159.30
Greenville Fire Department $47,317.60
Hollansburg Fire Department $47,549.98
Pitsburg Fire Department $47,490.00
Rossburg Fire Department $36,537.84
Union City Fire Department $47,280.92
Versailles Fire Department $45,846.70
Liberty Twp. Volunteer Fire Department $47,969.20
Gettysburg rural Fire Department $44,965.00
New Madison Fire Department $46,446.80
North Star Community Fire Department $46,594.00
Osgood Community Volunteer Fire Department $40,417.60
Greenville Twp. Fire Department $40,000.00

These awards are significant in the forward progress of moving Darke County emergency communications to the Ohio MARCS System. We are currently in the process of constructing a MARCS tower in Union City Ohio in which we were awarded $500,000 from the Ohio Capital Safety Grant.

Here's the press release from the State Fire Marshall's office:

STATE FIRE MARSHAL NAMES M.A.R.C.S. GRANT AWARDEES 

State Fire Marshal Larry L. Flowers is pleased to announce the awardees for the MARCS (MultiAgency Radio Communications Systems) grants for Fiscal Year 2017, which includes 165 fire departments in 25 counties throughout the state totaling $3 million.

The grant program helps offset the cost of the radio equipment, as well as user fees associated with using the system, to local fire departments across the state of Ohio and to promote maximum communication between first responders.

“The support from Governor Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly will allow these fire departments to operate at a higher level,” Marshal Flowers said. “Our goal is to make sure each responder will be able to serve fully and return home safely at the end of an emergency. This grant will help enable that.”

Of the 165 awardees, 75 fire departments in nine counties are receiving equipment as part of regional grant requests. The remaining 90 departments are receiving funding to cover MARCS user fees.

Local fire departments chosen for the grant were selected based on a variety of criteria, including the fire department’s annual budget, annual number of fire incidents and the resident population served by the department. Regional applications received highest priority in the review process. Letters detailing each agency’s award or denial will be sent to applicants in the coming weeks.