A task force on volunteer fire service in Ohio begins its regional roundtable listening tour July 27 with a session from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Wayne County Regional Training Facility in Apple Creek.

According to a news release from the state fire marshal, these roundtable events will be held in various regions across the state giving firefighters and community members a chance to share information about their daily challenges and experiences. The task force is responsible for making recommendations to improve the sustainability of the volunteer fire service in Ohio.

Other roundtables are set for Aug. 17 in Perrysburg; Aug. 20 in Hamden; Sept. 28 and Oct. 8 in Reynoldsburg; and Oct. 1 in Lebanon.

These meetings are open to the public. Visit the State Fire Marshal’s website at com.ohio.gov/fire to RSVP and learn more about the volunteer task force and its mission.

Ohio has 1,180 fire departments with approximately 70 percent of all fire service in the state provided by volunteers. These volunteers typically have full-time jobs but are called upon to assist in the event of an emergency. Historically, a volunteer fire department’s community response is most significantly impacted by staffing, training and funding levels, so they must have full support to protect their communities.

Earlier in the year, Gov. Mike DeWine assembled this task force, which consists of 25 members from around the state representing local volunteer fire departments, municipalities and state agencies.

The task force’s report is due to DeWine by June 2023.

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