Six local fire protection districts receive grants from Illinois State Fire Marshal

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal recently announced the recipients of the 2023 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $1.5 million was awarded to 64 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

Receiving grants were:

• Brown County Fire Protection District: $25,740
• LaHarpe Fire Protection District: $23,703.40
• Warsaw Rural Fire Protection District: $23,672
• West Point Fire Protection District: $25,000
• Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District: $18,859
• Barry Fire Protection District: $26,000

This program helps with a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those with hardships in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. Eligible applicants can buy small equipment they may otherwise not be able to. The OSFM received 296 applications, requesting around $4.5 million in funding for this grant period.

“The OSFM continues to remain committed to our mission of helping departments and districts purchase essential firefighting or EMS equipment that will help not only their members to stay safe, but continue to provide lifesaving services to their communities,” Acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Dale Simpson said in a press release. “Budgets remain tight, and the cost of firefighting equipment continues to rise, that is why programs such as our Small Equipment Grant are a great resource, especially for our smaller and rural volunteer fire departments across the state.”