The Ohio State Fire Marshal helps local fire departments make upgrades to their communication equipment. 229 fire departments across Ohio will get a share of 4 million dollars statewide as part of the MARCS Grant program. In Allen County, American and Bath townships, Harrod, Spencerville, and Westminster fire departments got between 30 and 50 thousand dollars for radio upgrades. In Putnam County, Fort Jennings and Kalida volunteer fire departments got nearly 50 thousand and 29 thousand dollars, respectively.

The Lima Noon Sertoma Club honors Lima's bravery with the Firefighter of the Year Award. This year they recognized Kendall Harrod for the work he has done over the past 10 years with the Lima Fire Department. His fellow firefighters call him a role model for their new recruits, and this past summer, Harrod helped save the life of an infant while responding to a call.

It's becoming harder to fill the ranks at the Lima Fire Department, but with a new contract, maybe that will change. As a kickoff to Fire Prevention Week, the Lima Rotary heard from former Lima Fire Department chief Andy Heffner and new chief Jack McDermitt. Both spoke about how the department has grown not only in the number of firefighters but also in the equipment that is needed for all the calls that they respond to. It's not just fighting fires anymore; it's EMS calls, dive team responses, "swat" team medics, and more. But one of the biggest challenges is the workforce. The city and the department recognize that and are trying to address the issue.

Several area fire departments responded to a duplex fire in Lima Friday afternoon. At 12:17 p.m., the Lima Fire Department responded to a fire at an apartment unit inside a duplex in the 700 block of South Elizabeth Street. When firefighters arrived on the scene, a second alarm was declared. According to Lima Fire Department personnel on the scene, all people were accounted for, and the tenant was at work when the fire erupted inside the apartment. There were five cats and one dog inside the unit where the blaze broke out, and one dog in the other unit. Tragically, two cats and one dog were killed. 

Multiple area departments battled a third-alarm barn fire this afternoon near Williams and Bresler Lake reservoirs. According to fire personnel on scene, the call came in at 3 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a barn fire at 890 Grubb Road South, with Spencerville, American Township, Shawnee Township, Delphos, and Cridersville responding. Upon arrival, the barn was fully engulfed in intense flames, causing complete destruction of the structure, resulting in a third alarm declaration.