Federal grant aims to boost firefighter numbers

Capt. Wade Ralph said the increased manpower will lead to "better response times and more trucks on duty at a given time" for the department

Marion Star

MARION, Ohio — Assistance from the federal government will allow the city’s fire department to grow in size.

As many as 10 firefighters are expected to be added to the Marion City Fire Department after the city was awarded a $1.07 million grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “We are growing back as a community,” Capt. Mike Makowski said. “This is a huge step for the safety of the citizens.”

Capt. Wade Ralph said the increased manpower will lead to “better response times (and) more trucks on duty at a given time” for the department. “It could be the difference between having two or three squads on for a day or having a station that could be potentially closed,” Ralph said.

Full story: Federal grant aims to boost firefighter numbers