A number of area fire departments were recently named on a list for essential tool and equipment grants provided by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
The O-F-S-M announced yesterday the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 178 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.
The OSFM received 347 applications, requesting around $7.7 million in funding for this grant period.
Departments from the area who were grant recipients include: the Versailles Fire Protection District, the Hardin Fire Protection District, the North Calhoun Fire Protection District, the Calhoun County Volunteer Ambulance Service, the Beardstown Fire Department, the Chandlerville Volunteer Fire Department, the Carrollton Fire Protection District, the Waverly Fire Protection District, the Franklin Fire Protection District, the Chapin Area Rescue Squad, the Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District, and the North Scott Fire Protection District.
Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply. All fire departments, fire protections districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for a minimum of two years prior to applying.