Governor Announces Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced 26 Illinois rural fire protection districts and fire departments will share more than $116,000 in matching grant funds as part of the federal Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program.

"These grants provide equipment and training for small town fire departments and rural fire protection districts that enhance the level of public safety in these communities," Ryan said. "This cost­sharing program helps rural fire fighters save lives and property."

The grants, which range from $1,454 to $6,000, will reimburse 50 percent of the recipient's cost for acquiring dry hydrant systems and other fire­fighting equipment to provide training and for conversion of federal excess vehicles for use in local fire fighting. Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects outlined in their application before being reimbursed.

The U.S. Forest Service federal grant program is administered in Illinois by the Department of Natural Resources. The Illinois allocation is the fourth largest in the nation.

This year's grant recipients were selected from among 82 applicants with total grant requests of nearly $1 million. During the past 26 years, a total of 1,129 grants totaling more than $2.9 million have been awarded to rural fire protection agencies and fire departments in Illinois.

This year's grant recipients are listed below.

2000 Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Grant Recipients

Amboy Fire Protection District, Lee County,
$6,000, equipment, dry hydrant and training.

Armington Fire Protection District, Tazewell County,
$6,000, equipment and dry hydrant.

Beckemeyer­Wade Twp. Fire Protection District, Clinton County,
$2,435, equipment.

Christy Fire Protection District, Lawrence County,
$4,253, equipment and federal excess vehicle conversion.

Ellis Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Randolph County,
$5,217, equipment.

Gulfport/Gladstone Fire Protection District, Henderson County,
$5,000, equipment.

Keyesport Fire Protection District, Bond County,
$5,957, equipment, dry hydrant and training.

Kilbourne Fire Protection District, Mason County,
$4,250, equipment.

Loraine Fire Department, Adams County,
$3,385, equipment.

Maeystown Fire Protection District, Monroe County,
$1,875, equipment.

Mendon Volunteer Fire Department, Adams County,
$3,673, equipment.

Mid­Piatt Fire Protection District, Piatt County,
$6,000, equipment.

Village of Pulaski Fire Department, Pulaski County,
$4,755, equipment

Ridge Lake Fire Protection District, Mason County,
$3,750, federal excess vehicle conversion.

Sesser Fire Protection District, Franklin County,
$3,580, equipment.

Shawneetown Fire Department, Gallatin County,
$3,130, equipment and training.

Sullivan Fire Protection District, Moultrie County,
$5,995, equipment, dry hydrant and training.

Tamms Volunteer Fire Department, Alexander County,
$6,000, equipment and federal excess vehicle conversion.

Thomson Fire Protection District, Carroll County,
$2,395, equipment.

Tonica Volunteer Fire Department, LaSalle County,
$4,200, equipment and training.

Utica Fire Department, LaSalle County,
$1,454, equipment.

Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, Cass County,
$4,240, equipment.

Warren Fire Department, Jo Daviess County,
$6,000, equipment.

Willow Springs Fire Department, Cook County,
$5,031, equipment.

Winfield Fire Protection District, DuPage County,
$6,000, equipment.

Zeigler Fire Department, Franklin County,
$5,542, equipment.