Asst. Fire Chief Mark Grove | Woodville
Chief Deputy Rick Sluder | Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office
There's a quiet crisis affecting fire protection in smalltowns and rural communities nationwide.
Here in Ohio, nearly 70% of our nearly 1,200 firedepartments are staffed primarily by volunteer firefighters.
But between 2018 and 2021, Ohio saw a 6.5% drop involunteers, even as calls for service rose 9%.
Janek Schaller | Journalist | Midstory
While real estate surges in Toledo and home prices rise,many residents find themselves struggling — sometimes pushed to the brink ofhomelessness.