Latest news with #JoDaviess

Yahoo

QCA fire departments receive state grants to buy small equipment

Several fire departments in the QCA recently received grants to help them buy more equipment. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 178 fire departments/districts and EMS providers statewide. The program was developed to provide grants of up to $26,000 each to buy small firefighting and ambulance equipment. This program addresses a problem that has caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, especially those that have trouble generating enough revenue for small equipment. The grants give eligible applicants an opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to buy. The OSFM received 347 applications, requesting about $7.7 million in funding for this grant cycle. 'Grant programs like our Small Equipment Grant Program are critical in providing fire departments and ambulance providers with the necessary equipment to ensure their staff can perform their duties safely and efficiently,' said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. 'These grants alleviate the burden of tough financial decisions, allowing departments to acquire essential tools without delay, ensuring they have what they need when they need it,' Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply for the grants. All applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years before applying. Local fire departments that received grants include: Bureau: Mineral-Gold Fire Protection District $24,991.73 Henry: Colona Community Fire Protection District $21,500 Kewanee Fire Department $21,455.46 Jo Daviess: Apple River Fire Protection District $26,000 Rock Island: Hampton Fire Rescue $17,500 Whiteside: Erie Fire Protection District $23,919 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.