LAURELVILLE, Ohio. The Laurelville Volunteer Fire Department in Hocking County has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s FY2026 Small County Volunteer Fire Department program.
The department, identified by FDID number 37201 and located at PO Box 393 in Laurelville, received official notification dated February 20, 2026. The grant supports volunteer fire services in small counties across the state.
State officials announced the broader initiative on February 25, 2026. A total of $7,997,960 will go to 190 fire departments in 49 Ohio counties with populations of 70,000 or fewer. The funding, established by House Bill 96 during the 136th General Assembly, marks the first year of the nonrenewable Small County Volunteer Fire Department Grant.
According to the official award letter signed by Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sheryl Maxfield and State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon, the Laurelville Volunteer Fire Department must use the $50,000 in accordance with its grant application and the program’s terms. Award of the funds depends on the department returning a signed Grant Award Agreement within 14 days.
The program helps qualifying departments purchase essential equipment, upgrade facilities, and expand access to firefighter training. This strengthens emergency response capabilities for rural communities. The Laurelville Volunteer Fire Department provides primary fire protection across approximately 154 square miles of rural Hocking County terrain serving about 5,000 residents.
Reardon, appointed Ohio’s 39th State Fire Marshal in 2020, and Maxfield, who has led the Department of Commerce since 2019 under Governor Mike DeWine, oversaw the selection process. The department can review the full SCVFD Outline at https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/state-fire-marshal/grants.
This award brings targeted state support to south central Ohio volunteer firefighters. It addresses the unique challenges of protecting expansive rural areas with limited local resources. The Laurelville department joins other Hocking County recipients in the statewide distribution.
Residents in Laurelville and surrounding Hocking County areas can expect the grant to enhance local fire protection services once the agreement is finalized and funds are disbursed. For more details on the program, visit the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal grants page.
