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Ohio fire grants provide critical funding for emergency radio communication upgrades and safety gear across the state.
State officials announce nearly $4 million in Ohio fire grants to help first responders modernize their radios.
State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon announced this week that 198 fire departments across the state have been selected to receive significant funding for the communication equipment.
The initiative, part of the 2026 Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS) grant program, aims to improve interoperability between agencies during emergencies. According to reports from the Department of Commerce, the total investment for this cycle reaches nearly $4 million.
These funds target smaller service areas that often struggle with budget constraints. Departments serving populations of 25,000 or fewer were given priority during the selection process. This ensures that volunteer and rural stations can communicate effectively with larger state and county agencies during mutual aid calls.
Improving safety with Ohio fire grants
The primary focus of this funding cycle is the modernization of radio systems. Many local departments still rely on outdated analog technology or equipment that is over 15 years old. This setup fails to connect reliably with the statewide digital network. By upgrading to the MARCS system, first responders can communicate seamlessly with police, highway patrol, and other fire stations regardless of jurisdiction.
“For every fire department, communication is key, and that aspect just got a big boost from the state,” James Bodnar, assistant fire chief of the Central Joint Fire District, told reporters regarding the new funding.
According to Ohio State Fire Marshal, the MARCS radio system offers a secure and reliable statewide network. It enables first responders to coordinate seamlessly with their own teams and outside agencies during emergencies.
Because acquiring and maintaining this advanced technology is expensive, grant funding is essential. It ensures fire departments of all sizes can equip themselves with these critical communication tools.
Bodnar’s district is one of many beneficiaries that will use the funds to purchase portable radios and pay for user fees.
Reliable communication is a matter of life and death in emergency situations. When firefighters enter a burning building, they need to know their distress calls will be heard. The new digital radios offer clearer audio and better coverage than the aging equipment currently used by many rural squads.
Funding details and department eligibility
The grants allow departments to purchase radios, paying up to $50,000 per agency. This cap enables smaller departments to replace multiple units at once. This financial feat would otherwise take years of fundraising. In addition to hardware, the money can cover service fees that often burden small municipal budgets.
According to updated data released by the Ohio Department of Commerce in late December 2025, the state has awarded more than $24 million in MARCS grants since 2020. This sustained investment highlights a long-term commitment to standardizing public safety communications across Ohio.
While the current announcement focuses on radios, the state noted it has awarded an additional $13 million through other grant programs recently. These help support equipment and training needs, ensuring a holistic approach to firefighter safety.
For Ross Township
For Ross Township Fire Department Chief Chris Johns, the grant would be a huge help for their department.
“It’s great bringing everything up to date, to modern technology and phasing the old equipment that we had,” Johns said in a report by Spectrum News.
Johns added that the radios they currently have in their vehicles and portable handheld radios are about 15 years old.
“And technology changes so much, so this grant is going to replace all of the mobile radios in our vehicles…We’ve never put in for the MARCS grant previously, so I thought I’d try it and almost got $33,000 dollars for this,” Johns added.
These grants are specifically designed for small departments that serve a maximum of 25,000 residents. Each eligible department is eligible to receive up to $50,000 through this grant.
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