State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pleased to announce the Westville Area Fire Protection District will receive funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for equipment upgrades.

“First responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” Bennett said. “This equipment grant comes at a critical time for this fire department and will allow them to replace outdated gear that no longer meets current standards.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established by OSFM to provide grants of up to $26,000 to support small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments and EMS providers across the state through the program.

The Westville AFPD will receive $26,000.

“Departments have had to make tough financial decisions, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “The Small Equipment Grant Program helps reduce the burden on smaller departments/districts while replacing aging and sometimes failing small equipment.”

A complete list of recipients and awards can be found on the OSFM website.

Keene residents, city officials and firefighters gathered to celebrate and ceremoniously place a new ambulance into service, reports Cleburne Times-Review.

The new ambulance, a 2021 Ford F-450, includes a number of technology upgrades, like a push of a button on the new ambulance extends the stretcher out then lowers its wheels. 

The Keene Fire Department’s ambulance service dates to 1970.

Carlsbad will soon get to work on a new fire station for the city by demolishing an existing fire station, reports NBC San Diego.

Built in 1969, Fire Station No. 2 is not suited for modern firefighting: the building was meant to house one firefighters, wooden shingles on the roof and sides pose a fire hazard and the engine bays are too short.

Funding for the $13 million project was approved by voters. The new station will be more than double its current size and will have large bays.

South Dakota Mines students worked with tribal and federal officials to help research and design a new structural fire station, reports Black Hills Pioneer.

This will be the first time the Oglala Sioux Tribe has a fire station dedicated to protecting structures located on their reservation. The senior design team was requested by officials after they reached out as part of a memorandum of understanding between the university and the Tribe that helps connect experts at Mines with tribal needs. To prepare for the project, students toured local fire stations and spoke with fire officials about a station’s needs.

 Funding was provided by a USDA Rural Development grant.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today marked the 20^th anniversary of the lifesaving Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which was created two decades ago by Rep. Pascrell’s FIRE Act. Since its inception, the AFG program has provided $9.25 billion to fire departments nationwide, including $198,500,000 in grants to New Jersey fire departments and $21,835,514 in grants to fire departments in New Jersey’s Ninth Congressional District.

Rep. Pascrell was joined today by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association President Ed Donnelly, Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey Vice President of Legislative Affairs Anthony Tarantino, Elmwood Park Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Bruce, Paterson Fire Chief Brian McDermott, and scores of firefighters, chiefs and government officials from throughout New Jersey.

“Supporting our nation’s fire services has been my mission since I was first elected to the Congress. In October 2000, President Clinton signed my FIRE Act into law and the AFG program was born. Since then, I’m proud to say this program has awarded over $9 billion to equip and train our local fire departments. This includes $198.5 million to our state and over $21 million for equipment, vehicles, training, and safety programs at fire departments in our Ninth Congressional District,” said Rep. Pascrell.“Integral to the FIRE Act was the late Chief Lou Imparato of the Passaic Fire Department. Simply put, the FIRE Act would not have been possible without Lou’s help in conceiving the bill and bringing all the groups together to push in the same direction. To honor Chief Lou and his legacy, we must continue supporting our nation’s fire heroes at every turn with programs like AFG. America’s firefighters have our backs when we need them most. We must have theirs in return.”

Annual funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is provided by Rep. Pascrell’s Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act, which was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. Administered by DHS’ Federal Emergency Management Agency, the AFG program provides direct support to eligible fire departments to help them meet the demanding and ever-evolving nature of their work.

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