04.06.11

Durbin Announces More Than $150,000 in FEMA Grants to Chicago Area 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 two grants totaling $179,763 to fire departments in the Chicago Metro area.

 

“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:

 

  • Village of Evergreen Park Fire Department - $147,463 in funding
  • Western Springs Department of Fire & EMS - $32,300 in funding