Prairie State Wire

Springfield, Ill- The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 165 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.

Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera expressed his satisfaction with the increased funding this year, stating, "We continue to see and hear about the need and understand the issues fire departments face when it comes to funding across the state. I am proud this year we were able to increase our grant funding to $4 million, a $2.5 million increase from last year, which has allowed us to award over 100 more departments money to purchase lifesaving tools they might not have been able to afford otherwise."

The OSFM received 417 applications, requesting around $9.5 million in funding for this grant period. 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 (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.

The grant recipients and awards ranged from various districts across the state, with amounts allocated for specific departments for the purchase of essential equipment. The grants aim to address the financial challenges faced by these organizations in acquiring necessary tools for their operations.

The list of recipients and their respective grant amounts demonstrates the wide distribution of funds to support various fire departments and EMS providers in Illinois. The grants are expected to enable these entities to enhance their capabilities and better serve their communities.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal's commitment to supporting fire departments and EMS providers through these grants highlights the importance of investing in public safety infrastructure. The awarded funds will undoubtedly make a significant impact in improving the readiness and effectiveness of emergency response services across the state.