SPRINGFIELD, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and Gov. Bruce Rauner today announced the recipients of the Small Firefighting and Ambulance Service Equipment Grant Program, also known as the Small Equipment Grant Program.
One hundred fire departments and nonprofit ambulance services across the state received grants for the purchase of safety equipment, protective clothing, breathing apparatus and other needed tools.
The money for this grant comes from the Fire Prevention Fund.
The grants total $2.2 million, with each recipient receiving up to $26,000.
Rauner congratulated the chiefs in attendance for the grant announcement and recognized the risk that first responders take daily.
“Firefighters do not hesitate to put themselves in harm’s way to battle fires, to save lives and to keep us safe,” said Rauner. “It is our job to ensure they have the equipment needed to stay safe. This grant ensures fire departments are better equipped, allowing first responders to more effectively and safely do their jobs.”
State Fire Marshal Matt Perez discussed the grant’s importance.
“This year we had over 400 fire departments from across the state apply for a grant,” Perez said. “The requests for grants totaled over $9 million. We had $2.2 million in funds to award and we ensured that the neediest stations across the state received the money to ensure the safety of the men and women that protect their cities. It is imperative that we continue to find ways to aid the men and women that respond first in a disaster and always put the lives of others before their own.”
This year, research conducted by the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Research Center led OSFM to evaluate new needs.
The research on cardiovascular and chemical exposure risks faced by firefighters prompted the inclusion of gear washers as acceptable purchases in this year’s grant application cycle.
Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply.
All fire department, fire protection district and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.
Local recipients and amounts include:
Bond County:
Shoal Creek Fire Protection District- $25,657.55
Mulberry Grove Fire District- $25,485
Christian County:
Morrisonville-Palmer Fire Protection District- $22,692
Clark County:
West Union Community Fire Protection District- $25,599.95
Clark/Cumberland Counties:
Casey Fire Protection District- $26,000
Coles County:
Mattoon Fire Department- $15,736.23
Cumberland County:
Toledo Volunteer Fire Protection District- $25,140.98
Fayette County:
Brownstown Fire Protection District- $24,451
Lawrence County:
Christy Fire Protection District- $26,000
Marion County:
Kell Community Fire Protection District- $25,680
Richland County:
Olney Fire Department- $20,864
Shelby County:
Windsor Area Ambulance Service- $23,800
Windsor Fire Protection District- $25,908
Findlay Fire Protection District- $25,076.25
Wayne County:
Fairfield Rural Fire Protection District- $25,234