Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has awarded $495,000 in federal grants to 73 volunteer fire departments across the state to help with purchasing new equipment or paying for fire training.
The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training. Funding is passed through IDNR to local fire departments and fire training academies.
The 73 grantees provide fire protection to about 250,000 Illinois residents, primarily in rural areas of Illinois.
“IDNR is pleased to support fire protection districts that are necessary to protecting lives and property in some of the most underserved areas of Illinois,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “These grants will fund critical equipment and training resources for rural communities throughout the state.”
The VFC grant program (formerly the Volunteer Fire Assistance program) reimburses 50% of the recipients’ project costs up to $10,000. Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects before being reimbursed.
In 2025, the program awarded $322,893 for 48 Illinois projects. The types of projects that have been funded under previous grants include radios, hoses, self-contained breathing apparatus, turn-out gear, wildland personal protective equipment, hand tools, chainsaws, backpack blowers, modifying federal excess vehicles and equipment, and other equipment.
“Volunteer firefighters and rural fire protection districts are essential to keeping our communities safe,” said State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon). “In many small towns and rural areas, these departments are made up of neighbors who step up to serve and protect others, often with limited resources. These grants will help provide critical equipment and support so first responders can continue doing their jobs safely and effectively. I’m grateful to see these investments coming back to the communities of the 53rd District.”
“No matter what Illinois community our residents call home, their safety matters, and they deserve access to reliable emergency fire services,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey). “These grants will help fire departments buy the equipment and resources they need to keep residents safe.”
Additional information about grant requirements and opportunities can be found on the IDNR grants website and the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.
Volunteer Fire Capacity grant recipients by county:
Bond County
- Greenville Fire Protection District, $8,060
- Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District, $10,000
Bureau County
- Bureau Fire Protection District, $4,723.50
Cass County
- Ashland Fire Protection District, $8,805.05
Champaign County
- Broadlands-Longview Fire Protection District, $9,577
- St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District, $9,559
- Tolono Fire Protection District, $9,660
Christian County
- Midland Fire Protection District, $9,595.50
Clay County
- North Clay Fire Protection District, $10,000
Clinton County
- Germantown Rural Fire Protection District, $6,924.50
- Huey Ferrin Boulder Fire Protection District, $4,173.95
Coles County
- Lincoln Fire Protection District, $8,861
Cook County
- Sauk Village Fire Department, $1,531.77
Douglas County
- Tuscola Fire Department, $10,000
Effingham County
- Montrose Fire Protection District, $4,568
- Teutopolis Fire Protection District, $5,367.50
- Tri-County Fire Protection District, $9,958
- Watson Fire Protection District, $4,908
Franklin County
- Sesser Fire Protection District, $5,000
Fulton County
- Farmington Fire Protection District, $2,936.97
- Lewistown Fire Protection District, $10,000
Greene County
- White Hall Fire Protection District, $10,000
Grundy County
- Gardner Fire Protection District, $9,204.28
Hamilton County
- McLeansboro Fire Department, $10,000
Iroquois County
- Cissna Park Fire Protection District, $10,000
- Woodland Fire Protection District, $5,459.19
Jefferson County
- Jefferson Fire Protection District, $4,785
Johnson County
- Goreville Fire Department, $10,000
Kankakee County
- Grant Park Fire Department, $10,000
- Manteno Community Fire Protection District, $7,416.70
Kendall County
- Newark Fire Protection District, $4,991.50
LaSalle County
- Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, $5,500
- Leonore Volunteer Fire Department, $4,972
- Peru Fire Department, $2,486.92
- Utica Community Fire Protection District, $8,500
Livingston County
- Emington-Campus Fire Protection District, $5,000
Madison County
- Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department, $7,320
Marion County
- Salem Fire Protection District, $6,918.50
Mason County
- Easton Rural Fire Protection District, $10,000
McDonough County
- Good Hope-Sciota Fire Protection District, $5,780.54
- Industry Fire Protection District, $4,999
McLean County
- Bellflower Fire Protection District, $10,000
- Hudson Fire Protection District, $9,766.87
- Mount Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District, $3,425
Monroe County
- Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District, $5,182.96
- Valmeyer Fire Protection District, $4,450
Montgomery County
- Coffeen Fire Protection District, $10,000
- Hillsboro Fire Department, $9,385
- Witt Volunteer Fire Department, $4,789.14
Morgan County
- Waverly Fire Protection District, $6,096.22
Moultrie County
- Sullivan Fire Protection District, $5,342.40
Piatt County
- Mid-Piatt Fire Protection District, $10,000
- Monticello Fire and Rescue Department, $6,193.50
Pike County
- Griggsville Fire Department, $6,850
- Hul Kinderhook Fire Protection District, $7,662.50
Pope County
- Rural Pope County Fire Protection District, $9,928.38
Rock Island County
- Carbon Cliff-Barstow Fire Protection District, $2,533.57
Saline County
- Galatia Volunteer Fire Department, $3,369.48
Sangamon County
- Divernon Fire Protection District, $3,944
- Pleasant Plains Rural Fire Protection District, $4,072.48
Scott County
- Winchester Volunteer Fire Department, $9,899.01
Shelby County
- Oconee Fire Department, $7,000
Tazewell County
- Creve Coeur Fire Department, $3,860.78
Union County
- Alto Pass Volunteer Fire Department, $1,931.96
Warren County
- Central Warren County Fire Protection District, $5,000
- Little York Fire Protection District, $4,315
Washington County
- Ashley Fire Protection District, $2,150
Wayne County
- Fairfield Rural Fire Protection District, $9,480.50
White County
- Norris City Fire Protection District, $4,205.60
Will County
- Braidwood Fire Protection District, $2,464.98
- Crete Township Fire Protection District, $4,082.21
Williamson County
- Lake Egypt Fire Protection District, $9,999.63
Winnebago County
- Win-Bur-Sew Fire Protection District, $10,000
Comments