02.23.11

Durbin Announces More Than $1.4 Million in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded nine grants totaling $1,423,322 to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois.

 

“Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens,” Durbin said. “As these brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools possible to do their jobs well, and today’s grants will help meet that goal.”

 

The funding is provided through the DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program which seeks to strengthen the Nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. In the 2009 award year, Illinois received 240 awards – totaling over $25.4 million in federal funding to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. In FY2010, the program will award approximately $390 million nationwide.

 

Under this announcement, the following fire protection agencies will receive funding for operations and safety:

 

Chicago Metro Area

 

Antioch Fire Department, $68,400 in funding; Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District, $170,100 in funding; Flossmoor Volunteer Fire Department, $318,980 in funding; Hoffman Estates Fire Department, $49,760 in funding; North Palos Fire Protection District, $149,706 in funding; Oak Forest Fire Department, $119,237; and Peotone Fire Protection District, $50,550 in funding.

 

Central Illinois

 

Beardstown Fire Department, $11,115 in funding; Bradley Fire Department, $10,450 in funding; Charleston Fire Department, $5,171 in funding; Downs Community Fire Protection District, $36,789 in funding; East Peoria Fire Department, $136,124 in funding; Gibson City Fire Protection District, $79,800 in funding; Liberty Fire Protection District, $10,925 in funding; and Quincy Fire Department, $63,900 in funding.

 

Metro East

 

Collinsville Fire Department, $38,070 in funding.

 

Northern Illinois

 

Forreston Fire Protection District, $78,766 in funding; and Prophetstown Fire Protection District, $25,479 in funding.