On April 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the formation of the Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service to study and make recommendations to improve volunteer fire service in Ohio. In making the announcement at the Central Ohio Fire Museum, Governor DeWine was joined by Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield, State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon, and several local elected officials and firefighters.

“You never know when you may need emergency services, but you want to make sure that when you do need them, they are fast and efficient,” said Governor DeWine at the event. “I asked Fire Marshal Reardon to assemble the Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service to examine these issues and the state of fire services throughout Ohio and to provide recommendations so we can ensure the continuation of reliable emergency coverage for our communities.”

Data collected by the Division of State Fire Marshal shows more than half of registered fire departments in Ohio are staffed by volunteers. While there has been a 6.5 percent decrease in the number of volunteers in the state since 2018, there has been a continual increase in the number of emergency calls.

“As a career firefighter, I know the fire service is rooted deep in tradition, but the challenges of today can only be addressed through forward-thinking, innovative solutions. There is no single greatest issue of concern, for the volunteer firefighter service there are many – and together, they are creating challenges never before seen,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “This is not only an Ohio issue, this is a national problem, but Ohio can and will serve as an example.”

Potential issues the Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service will examine include:

Recruitment of volunteers

Financial stability of volunteer fire departments

Training issues

Resource assessment, and

Long-term stability of the volunteer fire department structure

At the event, Governor DeWine held a moment of silence in remembrance of Fire Lt. Philip M. Wigal of Town & Country Fire District in West Salem who was tragically struck and killed on Monday afternoon while working at the scene of an accident on I-71 in Wayne County.