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SALEM -- The fire department has received a grant from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
The commission awarded the department an $8,808 grant for hazardous material training which is part of a round of funding which includes 43 entities across the state totaling $800,000 in grant funding.
Fire Chief Scott Mason said that the department had initially applied for approximately $12,000 in funding and that the grant would be used to pay for part of the cost for a 36-hour confined space and technical rescue training through Bad Day Training at the start of 2027. The training is intended to prepare firefighters with entry procedures, rescue techniques, and emergency protocols in confined spaces that aren't intended for continuous human habitation.
Mason said that the department would still need to cover approximately $4,000 of the cost of the training. He also said that four of the department's firefighters would earn new certifications for completing the course, while the rest would be participating as part of their continuing education.
"It will be nice to get some outside training coming in. A lot of external training has become cost prohibitive. We're thankful that we were selected for the grant," Mason said.