For the Ironton Fire Department, the third time was a charm - even though the first two were great too.

Coming as the third year in a row, the IFD will receive a sizable grant through the Firefighter Investment and Response Act that provides funding to local departments to help them serve their communities. The department was awarded $59,067 that will be used for new firefighting clothing, chemical response/hazardous material gear and air testing equipment.

"This allows us to expand our programs. The fire fee was put together to bring us up to the century we are living in a little bit at at time. It is not a quick fix," said chief Tom Runyon. "… It will allow us to provide services to the city we cannot afford through our general budget or the fire fee."

The department is required to provide a 10-percent match, in this case approximately $6,000. As far as Runyon is concerned that is a small price to pay to be prepared.

"It will help us to be prepared in any event; if we have a chemical leak from a tank car or a train we could at least render some immediate help," Runyon said.