Governor Blagojevich announces grant awards to 54 fire departments for small equipment to improve response capabilities

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that 54 fire departments throughout the state will receive nearly $1 million in grants to help them purchase small equipment and protective clothing that will enable them to better serve their communities. 

 

"Local fire departments need to have the right equipment to protect the communities they serve. This grant program and our no-interest fire truck loan program, which has assisted more than 60 departments in purchasing new fire trucks, help these departments provide critical public safety services in their areas," said Gov. Blagojevich.

 

Last October, Gov. Blagojevich announced the Small Equipment Grant Program, under which fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments could apply for grants of up to $26,000 for purchasing items such as turnout coats for firefighters, firefighting tools and extrication equipment.  Larger items, such as fire trucks and other vehicles, are not eligible under this program, which is administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

 

Applications were reviewed by a committee appointed by the State Fire Marshal on the basis of equipment and financial needs of each department, with preference given to requests for equipment that will benefit a geographical area.

 

Only fire departments maintained by a local unit of government to provide fire suppression within a geographical area were eligible for the program.  In addition, departments receiving grants must have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for at least the past two years. 

 

Fire departments receiving the grants include:

 

Barry Fire Protection District (FPD) - $17,630

Beardstown Fire Department (FD) - $10,000

Bethany FPD - $22,400

Carlyle FPD - $12,800

Caseyville FD - $10,580

Cedarville FPD - $  7,745

Chapin FD - $10,931

Cobden FD - $25,800

Cowden FPD - $  9,500

Custer Township FPD - $25,300

Deer Creek FPD - $18,700

Elkville Volunteer FD - $11,108

Elmwood FD - $12,700

Evansville FD - $11,725

Freeport Rural FPD - $15,000

Goreville FD - $23,850

Hillsdale FPD - $14,402

Hurst FD - $15,350

Irving Volunteer FD - $25,356

Ivesdale FPD - $18,000

Joppa FD - $25,854

LaHarpe FPD - $21,220

Little Mackinaw FPD - $14,400

Loami FPD - $25,870

Lynch Area FPD - $21,225

Lynville-Scott-White Rock FPD - $25,750

Maeystown FPD - $11,757

Merrionette Park FD - $20,945

Mound City FD - $11,497

Neoga FPD - $25,706

Neponset FPD - $18,981

New Canton FPD - $25,000

Pana FD - $13,374

Peotone FPD - $  8,950

Pesotum FPD - $17,187

Phoenix FD - $14,186

Raymond Community FPD - $18,286

Rockford FD - $18,580

Rossville Area FPD - $25,825

Santa Fe FPD - $24,300

Secor FD - $14,800

Shawneetown FD - $  8,413

Sheridan Community FD - $25,373

Smithboro FPD - $26,000

South Jacksonville Volunteer FD - $  9,520

Spring Valley FD - $10,000

St. Peter FPD - $17,000

Stonefort Volunteer FD - $22,652

Tilden FPD - $  9,900

Tuscarora FD - $  8,542

Ursa FPD - $11,900

Valier FD - $25,770

Witt Volunteer FD - $15,200

Woodlawn FPD - $26,000