06.22.11

Durbin Announces More Than $175,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois 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 three grants totaling $178,070 to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois.

 

“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 fire prevention:

 

  • Antioch Fire Department – $10,602 in funding;
  • East St. Louis Fire Department – $141,660 in funding;
  • Decatur Fire Department – $25,808 in funding.