Six local fire protection districts receive grants to buy small firefighting, ambulance equipment

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Six local fire protection districts are among the 149 recipients of $3.3 million from the Small Equipment Grant Program, according to a press release from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. 

Receiving money from the program were:

• the Clayton Fire Protection District, $25,962
• the Liberty Fire Protection District, $25,885.
• the Brown County Fire Protection District, $26,000.
• the Mount Sterling Fire Department, $26,000.
• the Nauvoo Fire Protection District, $26,000.
• the Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District, $16,662.

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each to buy small firefighting and ambulance equipment. This program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for the fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those with hardships in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. 

“Departments have had to make tough financial decisions, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring our first responders in Illinois have properly functioning lifesaving equipment they need to perform their duties safely, while protecting their communities, is our top priority,” Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez said in a prepared statement. “The Small Equipment Grant Program helps reduce the burden on smaller departments/districts while replacing aging and sometimes failing small equipment.” 

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments and stand-alone nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply. All fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for a minimum of two years before applying.