State Fire Marshal awards MARCS grants to Canton-area fire departments
The Division of State Fire Marshal within the Ohio Department of Commerce has awarded $3.5 million to 325 fire departments across the state for Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems (MARCS).
Funding was received by 10 departments in Stark County, two in Carroll, and one in Tuscarawas counties.
"The MARCS radio system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate, not only with each other, but with other agencies responding to an incident," according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Commerce. "MARCS radio system technology is advanced and the costs to acquire and operate can be significant."
Fire departments that serve 25,000 people or fewer can apply for up to $50,000 a year. The State Fire Marshal received applications for more than $7.7 million in 2023 MARCS grants.
“This is a highly-competitive selection process, so our emphasis has been on growing the MARCS program with the goal that one day every department in Ohio is on this communication system,” State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon said in the news release.
Stark County agencies began using the MARCS system in 2019. The North Canton Fire Department, which has received the grant once before, will put the $2,040 award toward some of the annual fees required to use MARCS, said firefighter/paramedic Bryant Scheffler.
The Canal Fulton and Lawrence Township fire departments, which are both led by Chief Shawn Yerian, will use the state grant to replace radio parts, including clips and antennas. Lawrence Township received $3,240, and Canal Fulton received $1,800.
"We have like 10 batteries that are all not charging now," Yerian said.
The departments last received a MARCS grant in 2018 when it began implementing the system. Yerian said MARCS has allowed the fire departments to provide assistance to other jurisdictions.
"The ability to communicate on a MARCS channel is invaluable for departments like us," he said.
Orrville Fire Chief Chris Bishop said the $6,320 awarded to his department will fund four new radios. The city has used MARCS for about seven to eight years, and this is at least the third time the Fire Department received a MARCS grant.
"It definitely helps us that we're able to keep a replacement of radios that we would have to take out of our general budget," Bishop said.
Regional awards were as follows:
Stark County
Canal Fulton Fire Department: $1,800
Louisville Fire Department: $1,560
North Canton Fire Department: $2,040
Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department: $1,200
Canton Township Fire Department: $1,200
Wilmot Fire & Rescue: $1,500
Lexington Township Volunteer Fire Department: $1,440
East Sparta Volunteer Fire Department: $1,200
Lawrence Township Fire Department: $3,240
Erie Valley Fire & Rescue Joint Fire District: $1,680
Carroll County
Leesville Volunteer Fire Department: $1,680
Sherrodsville Volunteer Fire Department: $1,920
Tuscarawas County
York Township Volunteer Fire Department: $1,800
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio Fire Marshal awards MARCS grants to area departments
