Gov. Mike DeWine’s Volunteer Fire Service Task Force recently delivered its 31-page report containing the group’s recommendations to improve volunteer fire service in the state.

“This report emphasizes Ohio’s leadership in protecting our state’s citizens,” said DeWine, who met with several firefighters during his visit to Trumbull County on Thursday. “The Task Force has given us a roadmap to continue improving the critical service our first responders provide Ohio’s communities.”

The comprehensive report contains recommendations across several focus areas:

• Volunteer recruitment and retention.

• Training issues to enhance volunteer firefighter training.

• Financial stability of Ohio’s volunteer fire departments.

“The task force, through its report, has brought a much needed conversation on how we continue to protect all Ohio communities that utilize volunteer fire service,” DeWine said. “I applaud the work completed in such a short time and am pleased to include several program recommendations in my executive budget.”

Some of those recommendations without raising taxes or fees are:

• Hire a full-time volunteer coordinator within the State Fire Marshal’s Office — about $90,000 per year.

• Develop series of volunteer firefighter recruitment public service announcements — about $200,000.

• Waive State Fire Marshal Academy fees for volunteer firefighters — about $600,000 over the biennium.

• Update and expand current training IT system — about $350,000.

• Increase firefighter I and II and equipment grants — about $2.6 million over the biennium.

“The task force is pleased that so many of our recommendations were put into the budget without an increase in fees or taxes,” State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said. “These quick actions will make a direct, positive impact on improving the volunteer fire service is Ohio’s communities.”

In April 2022, DeWine formed the task force to study the volunteer fire service in Ohio. The group was chaired by Reardon and comprised of local elected officials and firefighters from all around the state.

The next phase of the group’s work will examine response times for both fire and EMS incident calls.

“We are excited to build on the initial success of the task force’s work,” Reardon said.