USDA Awards McArthur Volunteer Fire Department $345,000 for New Mini-Pumper Truck

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development presented the Village of McArthur with a $345,000 award on March 9 to purchase a new mini-pumper fire truck, putting Vinton County's volunteer department closer to upgrading the apparatus it sends to structure fires and other emergencies.

USDA Rural Development Ohio State Director Charles Tassell handed the check to Mayor Steve Hammond and McArthur Fire Department Chief Evan Knox at a formal presentation. The department, an all-volunteer operation serving the village and surrounding areas of Vinton County, will use the new vehicle as its primary first-response unit at structure fires.

"In an emergency, every second matters and the fire department's new truck will boost its response time to critical emergencies," Tassell said. "This investment aligns with the Trump Administration's commitment to supporting first responders. By connecting rural first responders with cutting-edge equipment, Rural Development is helping protect the citizens living in rural Ohio communities."

The funding comes through USDA's Community Facilities Programs, which provide direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for public service buildings in rural communities across the country. The USDA release describes the $345,000 as an "award" but does not specify whether it is structured as a grant, direct loan, or loan guarantee; the village and USDA can clarify the precise mechanism.

USDA Rural Development operates five offices in Ohio, including its state office in Columbus and area offices in Findlay, Hillsboro, Marietta, and Massillon. Information about rural investment programs in Ohio is available by calling 614-255-2400 or visiting rd.usda.gov/oh.

Neither Hammond nor Knox provided public statements at the time of the announcement. The department has not released a delivery timeline or vehicle specifications for the new mini-pumper.