Durbin Meets with Illinois Fire Fighters, Announces a Nearly $462,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $461,778 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today, Durbin also met with the Illinois Association of Fire Fighters, led by Springfield Fire Captain Tom Roate, to discuss the importance of these grants and the group’s priorities for the upcoming year.
“Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens,” Durbin said. “Today, I am happy to welcome the Illinois Association of Fire Fighters to Washington. As these brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities at home in Illinois, 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. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.25 billion in federal funding to first-responder organizations across the country to help purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. In Fiscal Year 2012, the program will award approximately $337.5 million nationwide.
The following fire protection agencies will receive funding for operations and safety:
- Palatine Rural Fire Protection District: $10,450 in funding;
- Algonquin - Lake in the Hills: $372,149 in funding;
- Palos Heights Fire Protection District: $32,775 in funding.
- North Maine Fire Protection District: $7,668 in funding;
- Dolton Fire Department: $38,736 in funding